Britain’s pensioners in a newly elected Labour seat are fighting back against Sir Keir Starmer’s Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) axe, with some saying they “regret their decision” to vote for the party.
The Prime Minister’s party has been slammed for running “a war on pensioners” after it was announced back in July by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that the scheme would be scrapped.
The WFP offered pensioners up to £300 in energy bill support annually to everyone in the UK – irrespective of income or wealth. However, going forward, older Britons will now need to be in receipt of means-tested payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), such as Pension Credit, to qualify for the payment. This will leave 10million elderly people without the payment.
In Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, a former Conservative stronghold that has only just turned Labour this July for the first time ever, this will affect 92% of those over the age of 65, according to data on the Government’s website.
GB News took to the streets of the leafy town to speak to residents on their thoughts on Starmer’s decision to scrap the WFP.
Violet, 91, is a staunch Conservative supporter, even speaking at local meetings for the party – but this year, she was persuaded to change her vote.
“It’s the first year I’ve ever voted Labour, and then Starmer does this!” she said.
“And I think to myself, how could he? I must admit, I had a lot of faith in him listening to all of the speeches and things like that. And now he’s made me almost change my mind.”
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Rachel Reeves announced the decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance in July GettyIn May, during an election campaign video, the future PM said that he had met some pensioners who were in an “awful position”, specifically referencing an 84-year-old woman who couldn’t get out of bed because of high energy bills.
He then pledged: “Pensioners deserve security in retirement. That’s what my Labour government will deliver”.
However, four months on, many feel betrayed by the party, who failed to mention the benefit in their manifesto once this year.
Violet continued: “‘What have you done? Why did I put my trust in you?’ I was thinking”, referencing Starmer.
Violet, 91, was a staunch Conservative supporter until she voted Labour for the first time
GB News
She said that right now she “100 per cent regrets her vote”, though did concede that in spite of this, it was time for a change from the Tories.
“I did get very disappointed with the Conservatives. Of course, I voted for them every time. I believed in what they were doing but it didn’t work out. It made sense for the change.”
Anna, 56, said she is just so “angry” at yesterday’s announcement. “The government makes these laws, but they don’t actually listen. I would like the people who made this law to cut the winter fuel to live a month like a pensioner. In a cold house, and see how they live. Where they have to choose between heating and eating.
“It’s going to get tough and then it’ll get better, they say. But it doesn’t seem to get better. If anything, it seems to get worse.”
Jude Amos, 68, echoed Anna’s assertion that the Government could not be trusted.
The 68-year-old accused the Prime Minister of “lying” to people in his election campaign. “Don’t promise if you can’t deliver,” she said in a message directed to Starmer.
MPs voted yesterday on the new measure, with union bosses accusing ministers of “picking pensioners’ pockets”.
Keith, 71, fumed at Starmer, simply questioning: ‘Why? Why is he doing it?’
GB News
It is expected to save £1.5billion a year, though ministers have refused to publish an assessment of the potential impact.
Alan and Jude Reed, 67 and 70 respectively, said that despite being staunch Conservative supporters, they still feel “let down” by the outcome.
“Whilst we absolutely did not vote Labour in this election, we still feel let down by what promises they had made beforehand. We knew a new government would bring about change but we didn’t think it would be like this.”
Keith, 71, fumed at Starmer, simply questioning: “Why? Why is he doing it?,” adding: “I wished the Conservatives had stayed in because he doesn’t know what he’s doing”.
However, Rachel Reeves double-downed on her stance, telling fellow Labour MPs that pensioners could afford the increase due to a rise in the state pension.
The Chancellor told a meeting – attended by Cabinet ministers Yvette Cooper, John Healy and Steve Reed – that: “There are more difficult decisions to come. I don’t say that because I relish it. I don’t, but it is a reflection of the inheritance that we face.
Alan and Jude Reed, 67 and 70 respectively, said that despite being staunch Conservative supporters, they still feel ‘let down’ by the outcome
GB News
John Burmicz slammed the situation as ‘disgraceful’
Reform UK
“So, when members are looking at where to apportion blame, when pensioners are looking where to apportion blame, I tell you where the blame lies. It lies with the Conservatives and the reckless decisions that they made.
“I don’t say that because I relish it. I don’t, but it is a reflection of the inheritance that we face.”
John Burmicz, Reform UK’s prospective parliamentary candidate at the July elections, labelled the situation as “disgraceful”.
“Our local MP has let a lot of people down. The use of this money to block a financial hole is nonsense considering how much we are spending on illegal immigration, outrageous pay settlements and MPs heating allowances for second homes. It will be bus passes and free prescriptions next!!”
GB News has reached out to Hertford and Stortford’s Labour MP Josh Dean for comment.
Source Agencies
