New data compiled today by Alessandro Georgiou AM at the City Hall Conservatives reveals the devastating impact of Labour's Winter Fuel Allowance cuts on London's elderly population, with hundreds of thousands of pensioners facing impossible choices between heating and eating this winter.
Analysis shows that 636,000 London pensioners will lose their Winter Fuel Allowance under Labour's changes, forcing vulnerable elderly residents to take desperate measures to stay warm. The findings paint a stark picture of pensioner poverty, with 49% of affected seniors expecting to heat just a single room this winter, while 43% plan to wear outdoor clothing inside their homes to stay warm.
The situation is particularly concerning given London's winter temperatures, which have averaged 4°C in the last month. 16 nights dropped below 5°C and temperatures plummeting as low as -2.9°C at the start of this year. These conditions, combined with soaring energy bills that have reached an average of £2,017 annually under the Labour Government despite promises by Sir Keir Starmer to cut bills by £300, have exacerbated living conditions for London's elderly population.
In a statement, Alessandro Georgiou AM said:
"These figures aren't just statistics - they represent real pensioners in real crisis. It is nothing short of scandalous that in 2025, we have elderly Londoners wearing coats indoors and confining themselves to a single heated room just to survive winter.
Labour's cruel cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance shows a complete disregard for our elderly population. With energy bills skyrocketing to over £2,000 a year, the choice between heating and eating has become a brutal reality for hundreds of thousands of London pensioners.
I urge any older residents affected by these cuts to contact Age UK immediately for support and advice. While the Government may have abandoned our pensioners, there are organisations ready to help."
The data reveals that London's elderly population has been disproportionately impacted by the combination of benefit cuts and rising energy costs. City Hall Conservatives are calling for an immediate reversal of the Winter Fuel Allowance cuts and the implementation of additional support measures for vulnerable elderly residents.
Those affected by these changes can contact Age UK for support and guidance on managing winter fuel costs.
Indeed it’s completely disgusting that OAP fuel payments are being withdrawn , I became a pensioner a few weeks ago. The other point which both this and the previous government have done NOTHING about is the spiralling costs of utilities, if this was tackled and prices were brought in line with people’s ability to pay for their heating then yes keep your fuel payments but this doesn’t look like being addressed any time soon. The Utility companies should be giving us pensioners a fuel rebate and twice the amount previously given instead of giving already overpaid executives bonuses!