Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is facing criticism from Conservative MPs, who accuse Labour of cutting winter fuel payments without making any real effort to improve home energy efficiency. They argue that if the government is going to take away financial support from pensioners, it should at least ensure homes are better insulated so people can save money on energy bills.
Patrick Spencer, a Conservative MP, called the cut to winter fuel payments “cruel”, saying it has left many elderly people freezing in their homes. He accused Labour of using the money to fund unnecessary projects like rail nationalization and the creation of GB Energy instead of focusing on helping people keep warm.
He pointed out that Labour promised to introduce policies that would make homes more energy-efficient, reducing costs for households in the long run. However, these policies have not been delivered, meaning pensioners are struggling more than ever to afford heating.
The government’s decision to remove winter fuel payments has affected up to 10 million people, sparking widespread concern. Many are calling for a U-turn, arguing that this decision hurts the most vulnerable during the coldest months of the year.
Neil Shastri-Hurst, another Conservative MP, criticized the government for failing to prepare for rising energy costs. He warned that with the energy price cap expected to increase again, pensioners will face even greater hardship. He said that if Labour truly cared about the most vulnerable, it would have had a clear plan to help struggling households. Instead, the government has done nothing to ease the crisis.
He also pointed out that the government had previously promised to improve energy efficiency in homes, which would have helped pensioners stretch their limited budgets. But once again, there has been no action, leaving people to suffer through the winter without support.
Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, announced plans in September to raise energy efficiency standards in social housing as part of an effort to cut fuel bills and meet climate goals. Under these plans, all social housing in England must achieve an EPC rating of at least C by 2030.
Originally, the Conservative government had planned to force private landlords to reach this standard by 2028, but Rishi Sunak scrapped that rule last year, arguing that forcing landlords to upgrade their properties could lead to higher rent prices.
Labour has now promised to reverse that decision and will give private landlords two more years—until 2030—to meet the new energy standards. The new rule will also apply to councils and housing associations, meaning a large number of properties will have to improve their insulation and energy efficiency.
Sam Payne, a representative from the Conservative Environment Network, stressed that improving home energy efficiency is one of the simplest ways to help people cut energy costs. He explained that British homes are among the worst-insulated in Western Europe, which means people are losing heat quickly and paying higher bills as a result.
He suggested that the government should extend VAT exemptions on energy-saving materials beyond 2027 to encourage more people to invest in insulation and energy-efficient heating. He also proposed including clean heating technologies, such as heat batteries, to give consumers more choices in how they reduce their energy use.
Experts agree that home insulation plays a key role in both reducing emissions and tackling high energy costs. Right now, household energy use accounts for around 14% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, meaning better insulation could help the environment while also saving people money.
For an average household, installing cavity wall and loft insulation costs around £3,200, but it can reduce energy bills by up to £790 a year. This means that in just four years, households could recover their investment and start saving money in the long run.
Despite these clear benefits, the government has been slow to act, leaving millions of people—especially pensioners—struggling with rising energy costs and no clear solutions in sight. Many are now questioning whether Labour’s energy policies will actually help people or if they are simply political promises with no real impact.
