Claire Coutinho News Update – September 2024

After another busy month out and about in East Surrey meeting residents, I wanted to give a
particular mention to two visits to the wonderful Woodhouse Centre in Oxted, and the
Prospero Theatre in Caterham to hear about their brilliant Friday Club.

I’m delighted to have supported both groups through my local charity the Friendship Project,
which I started to help support community groups who tackle loneliness. Overall, the
Prospero Theatre has received £2000 for their Sandwich Club and the Woodhouse Centre
has received £2500 for refurbishment. I’m proud to play a small part in their work as they
bring people together.

I also met with the headteachers of five independent schools at Hawthorn School in
Bletchingley to discuss their concerns around the Government’s plan to introduce VAT on
independent school fees. More than 1,000 constituents responded to my survey on this
issue with 98% agreeing that this would increase pressure on local state schools and
services for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

87% of parents who responded who had a child in an independent school said they would
have to consider sending their child to a state school. That’s up to 900 parents of children
that local state schools would have to accommodate, many of whom have complex special
needs.

My fellow Surrey MPs and I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves
to ask her to reconsider this damaging policy and introduce an immediate exemption for
children attending independent special schools.

Back in Parliament, in my role as Shadow Secretary of State, I led the opposition to Ed
Miliband’s plans to create an energy company that doesn’t generate any energy, that won’t
save families money off their bills and cannot be guaranteed to turn a profit. You can watch
my full speech on YouTube or my website.

I have also campaigned against the Government’s plan to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment
with no time for those affected to prepare. 17,000 pensioners in East Surrey will lose up to
£300 of energy bill support this winter – including 84% of pensioners living in poverty across
the country. However despite our best efforts in Parliament, the Government is determined
to go ahead with this policy. I will be launching another pension credit campaign this winter
just as I did in 2022, if you know anyone who is affected please do encourage them to check
their eligibility and call 0800 99 1234. This is a separate payment from your state pension
and could top up your weekly income by £182.60 per week if you live alone or £278.70 per
week for pensioners living with a partner.

I know many will be just above the cut off line and for them I worry this will be a very difficult
winter. If the Government truly wanted to means test the Winter Fuel Payment then this
could have done in many better ways and with more notice.

Finally, I know some of you may be interested in the Conservative leadership election. It was
a difficult election for my party. Many of you discussed your thoughts with me during that
time. After much consideration, I have decided to support Kemi Badenoch. She has a fresh
approach to politics, she is courageous, an engineer by background and firmly rooted to her
Conservative principles.