Sunderland Labour councillors and MPs left red-faced after ‘desperate and self interested’ Winter Fuel U-turn

Commenting on the Chancellor’s U-turn on Winter Fuel Payments, Liberal Democrat leader of the Opposition on Sunderland City Council Paul Edgeworth said:

“Today’s U-turn is better late than never – but it is clearly just a desperate and self-interested move to try and stop Labour losing support to opposition parties in the opinion polls and at the ballot box.

“Labour council leaders and MPs in Sunderland and across the North East have now been left red-faced after they shamefully tried to defend these indefensible cuts to winter fuel payments for months on end.

“Instead of doing what is right and standing up to their own incompetent Government, Labour bosses in the region have put party loyalty and their own career ambitions before the health, warmth and financial security of older people in our communities. Despite this U-turn they won't be forgiven by local people."