Last days to lobby MPs on WFP

A TOTAL 17 British MPs have now signed to try to stop the Winter Fuel Payment from being removed from expats in France – but only a few days remain for more to join them.

Four new MPs have joined a bid to oppose new British regulations restricting WFP to people in named ‘cold’ countries, not including France. However despite this, Connexion is not aware that this has been enough to trigger a debate on annulling the regulations.

If you will lose the payment next winter under the regulations and feel the UK is acting unfairly in taking this right away from expatriates like yourself, Connexion would urge you to contact your MP if you have not done so yet. The chance for MPs to contest the changes runs out on Monday next week.

Your British MP is the one for the constituency where you were last registered to vote.

Sir Roger Gale (Con), who tabled the motion against the new regulations, known as a ‘prayer’, said: “The need to sign the prayer is as great – and will be – until the closing date and the more readers that make contact with their MPs the better.”

He recommends stressing this is not an ordinary “Early Day Motion”, despite it being listed on the House of Commons order paper as such – as ordinary EDMs are ignored by many MPs. He also advises you to send a personal message about why you would be affected by losing the WFP and why you think this is unfair.

The latest signatures are from David Amess (Con), Annette Brooke (LD), Christopher Chope (Con) and Alan Meale (Lab), bringing the total to 17 MPs who oppose expats in France losing the WFP.

MPs in support so far can be found at:
MPs who have signed the ‘prayer’.

For more details, please see our previous articles:

How to lobby your MP over WFP
Last chance to keep expats’ WFP