A Labour councillor has admitted to distributing survival blankets to elderly people during the recent cold snap.
St. Andrews ward’s Cllr Andy Gilbert made the revelation as his group’s leadership caused fury at Hyndburn’s Full Council meeting by watering down a Conservative motion urging the government to reinstate the winter fuel payment to all pensioners.
The motion moved by former borough leader Cllr Marlene Haworth called on the authority to write to Chancellor Rachel Reeves urging her to reverse the cut limiting the cash to claimants of Pension Credit.
But deputy leader Cllr Noordad Aziz successfully moved an amendment which instead asked her to ‘where possible help the poorest in our society’ and highlighted the council’s efforts to increase the take-up of Pension Credit in the borough ‘thereby shielding the poorest pensioners from this cut’.
Cllr Marlene Haworth demanded the cash handout to pensioners be reinstated Conservative group leader Cllr Zak Khan said: “This amendment is nothing but a cop-out.
“It’s disgraceful to take this money away from pensioners. We want to help pensioners who are struggling with their bills.”
Cllr Gilbert told the meeting on Thursday night: “I have been giving out survival blankets to hard-up people. It’s not a solution but it’s a stop gap.”
Cllr Danny Cassidy, who seconded the Tory motion, said: “I don’t think many pensioners will be helped by thermal blankets.
“This amendment is a disgrace.”
Cllr Andy Gilbert said he has noticed demand for thermal blankets increase this winter Cllr Gilbert said after the meeting: “I get the blankets on eBay.
“I have been doing it for some time. I’ve given out a countless number of them.
“Demand for them has gone up since the winter fuel payment issue.”
Cllr Haworth said: “I put this motion forward as an 80-year-old who does not need the payment but unfortunately I know there are a lot of pensioners who are struggling to pay their bills without it.
“I am very, very disappointed by the Labour group amendment.”
Green councillor Shabir Fazal said: “This is a political choice. It is a dreadful mistake and the government needs to reverse it now.”
Peel ward Labour councillor Clare Pritchard said: “The hypocrisy of the Conservatives after the cuts in public spending of 14 years of their government astounds me.
“Where is the magic money tree? We don’t want to take the winter fuel allowance payment away from a lot of people but we have the balance the books.”
The meeting passed the amended motion with some Labour councillors, including veteran planning chair Dave Parkins, voting with the Conservatives or abstaining.