News from Southampton Labour

A Christmas cracker for Southampton: New year cash boost for 42,260 local people

John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen has welcomed a new cash boost for 42,260 Southampton local people as part of the Labour Government’s financial help.

Following the coldest start to winter in thirty years, the Government this week formally ordered a special one-off payment of £60 to pensioners, carers, disabled people and those in receipt of bereavement benefits.

John Denham said:
“This is Christmas cracker for everyone in Southampton. I’m pleased that the Government has realised that our most vulnerable need help and it’s right that they’ve invested this extra cash. The Christmas bonus will be a real winter warmer for all who get it.”

This help is in addition to the extra £4bn which will be spent on pensioners next year, announced by the Chancellor in the pre-budget report. This means the biggest increase in the State Pension since 2001, bringing it from £90 to £95 a week, and the biggest increase in Pension Credit since it was introduced, so that no pensioner need live on less than £130 a week from April 2009.

Speaking after a special debate in the House of Commons, James Purnell, Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said “We know that older people are facing tough times and that’s why we are making this real help available. I am pleased to confirm that this year we will spend approximately £900 million on the additional Christmas bonus payments.

“The Tories say we should do nothing to help people but we’ve ignored them and are putting an extra £60 in every pensioners’ pockets, alongside their increased Winter Fuel Payments.

“John Denham has always been a champion for local people and I’ve been pleased to work with him in highlighting the real help that Labour is offering.”

Labour’s Pensions Minister Rosie Winterton MP said:

“This is real help going to 42,260 people in Southampton, including 31,430 pensioners and 1,020 kids.

“I hope that this cash, alongside extra Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments, means that no one need worry about turning up the heat this winter. Thanks to a Labour government, everybody should have real help with their bills.”

Other news from Southampton Labour

• Alan Whitehead MP calls for support for hardworking carers - 8 March 2010
• Whitehead pledges to continue the fight against fuel poverty - 8 March 2010
• Southampton's Labour MPs welcome new support for asbestos victims - 3 March 2010