Bedford Borough Council is pausing the possible charges for Telecare amid concerns over the impact Labour's Winter Fuel Cut will have on our pensioners.

Scrapping Winter Fuel support will leave millions of pensioners facing increased health vulnerabilities as they are forced to choose between eating or heating.

Labour's own research from 2017 reveals the disastrous consequences of this cut, as they claimed that “withdrawing the payment could lead to almost 4000 additional deaths over winter”.

The Conservative administration is deeply worried about the effects this cut will have on the health of our pensioners here in Bedford Borough. To provide extra certainty and support the council will be pausing the Telecare charges at this time to have another look at the options.

Portfolio Holder for Valuing Families: Adult Services, Councillor Robert Rigby commented

“I have tried very hard to protect the old, the poor and the needy in my role and this cut in Winter Fuel allowance truly appalls me. 

The Labour Government really should be ashamed of what they have done.

I call upon our Labour MP to join us to lobby the Labour Government to reconsider this policy.

I am rethinking the Telecare charges, and in due course will be putting forward new proposals to put Telecare on a sound financial footing, which I hope ALL parties will support.

The LibDems, who have been vigorous in opposing Telecare charging, have known about the financial blackhole in our Telecare Budget for years, and did nothing to deal with it.”