Ten MPs support expats on WFP

Numbers of British MPs supporting a bid to maintain expats’ Winter Fuel Payments are rising – but more are needed

A LAST-DITCH bid to have the regulations axing Winter Fuel Payment for ‘warm’ countries including France has gained 10 MPs’ signatures in support.

Conservative MP Roger Gale tabled a ‘prayer’ against the new regulations restricting the WFP to named ‘cold’ countries, on January 15. He told Connexion anything more than the 10 signatures gained so far would be a ‘respectable’ response – nonetheless as many as possible are needed to help trigger a debate on the issue and time is of the essence.

If you would lose your WFP due to the regulations and feel this is unfair, we would urge you to make contact with your MP over this if you have not already done so. If you have been in France less than 15 years, this is the MP for the last UK constituency where you were on the electoral list.

Sir Roger said: “What is significant, I think, is [Prime Minister David] Cameron's expressed commitment to maintaining benefits for the elderly. This ought, surely, to mitigate in favour of the maintenance of WFA for expats - in the interests of fairness.”

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

Photo: Mgimelfarb