Concern over winter fuel bonus for pensioners living abroad

Councillor Wera Hobhouse

Councillor Wera Hobhouse has expressed her concern over the recent scandal that Britain has posted nearly £10 million in winter fuel bonuses to pensioners living abroad.

Councillor Hobhouse said: “There is something seriously wrong with how this Labour government is running our country when people are seeing a massive increase in energy prices.  In the same week it was announced that over £10million is being paid in winter fuel allowances to elderly ‘ex-Pats’ living in places like Spain, Portugal and Greece. The expected increase of 17.2 per cent in gas and 12.7 per cent in electricity will take the average home’s fuel bill to more than £1000-a-year and that is absolutely scandalous. More worryingly for me however is that fact that this increase in heating bills will basically wipe out the value of the winter fuel payments, which will affect many pensioners across our area.”

Councillor Hobhouse has also questioned whether Middleton East Councillor David Murphy, who is now living in Alicante, Spain and is eligible to claim the winter allowance, has "yet again taken taxpayer’s money under false pretences".

Councillor Wera Hobhouse then went on to question whether Middleton’s missing councillor David Murphy was one of the estimated 50,000 Britons living aboard who have claimed the winter fuel allowance.

Councillor Hobhouse said: “I believe that the people of Middleton would be very interested to know whether Councillor Murphy has had the cheek to yet again claimed taxpayer’s money whilst not even being present in the country. I would have asked him directly myself but his contact number on our council website is not in use.  How his local residents in Middleton East manage to get hold of him when they have a problem that needs dealing with is beyond me. How can Councillor Murphy claim to be representing the people of Middleton whilst residing in Spain? Middleton deserves better representation than this and if he has claimed this allowance whilst enjoying peak Mediterranean temperatures.  It’s an insult and if he has had the cheek to supplement his beach fund even further then taxpayers have a right to know.”