PROTESTING pensioners are taking to the city streets against the government’s cuts to winter fuel payments.
Organised by Unite, the UK’s leading union, protests are taking place in towns and cities across the country tomorrow (Saturday), including in Worcester.
The protests are the latest in a series of actions by Unite and pensioners’ groups to apply pressure to the government and highlight the harm being done by cuts to pensioners’ incomes.
The protests come as polling shows that just 33 per cent of voters in Labour constituencies support the introduction of means testing. Meanwhile, 65 per cent of voters think it is unfair that pensioners on incomes as low as £220 a week will be refused winter fuel payments. Nearly three quarters (75 per cent) are worried about themselves or a family member affording their heating bills this winter.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government needs to rapidly rethink this tin-eared cut. It is simply wrong that winter fuel payments have been slashed while the mega wealthy remain untouched.”
Unite has also begun legal action by instigating a judicial review of the government’s policy. This is due to the belief the government has acted unlawfully. Its actions will have a terrible effect on millions of older people in society and will likely cause an increase in cold related deaths.
Unite organiser Paul Berlyne added: “Thousands of pensioners have lost their winter fuel payments, just as Ofgem have allowed the energy firms to put fuel prices up again. That means retired people are dramatically worse off this winter.
“If the government has a financial black hole to fill, they should tax the profits of these energy companies or add a wealth tax on the very richest in our society who can afford it.“Pensioners will remember who picked their pockets the next time they come to cast their vote.”
