‘Robber’ Rachel Reeves was urged to reverse her decision to axe the Winter Fuel Allowance by furious pensioners yesterday.
The Chancellor was told to rethink means-testing the subsidy during a demonstration outside Parliament by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) and Unite – Labour’s main union backer.
One sign read: ‘Robber Reeves, don’t let us freeze!’ while Unite boss Sharon Graham it was time for the party to ‘change course’ and not ‘pick the pocket of pensioners’.
Inside the House of Commons, meanwhile, ministers came under further pressure to U-turn on the Winter Fuel Allowance cut – but said the state of the public finances forced their hand.
Ms Graham told the demonstration: ‘How did we get here? Less than 100 days ago, Labour was elected on a promise of change.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was urged to reverse her decision to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions by protesters yesterday
Angry pensioners protested outside parliament on Monday. Two demonstrators hold up a banner with the message ‘Robber Reeves, don’t let us freeze!’
Protesters gathered outside the Houses of Parliament for a demo organised by the Unite union demanding the decision is reversed.
Protesters hold placards at a demonstration against plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners
‘Well, I’m sorry Keir. That is not what is being delivered.
‘And People do not understand. I do not understand how a Labour Government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich totally untouched.
‘This is not what people voted for, it’s the wrong decision and needs to be reversed. Labour. Shame on you. There are other ways to pay, for the so called black hole, that MUST not include picking the pocket of pensioners.
‘Labour, it’s time to change course. To reverse these cuts before it is too late. Before our NHS is over-run with sick older people or pensioners die from the cold. This austerity cut to winter fuel needs to be scrapped.
‘And I say to Labour MPs, you are accountable to your communities, and those who elected you – not the party whip. Stand up on this issue and do the right thing.
NPC general secretary Jan Shortt added: ‘This was never in the Labour Party manifesto, it came as an absolute shock and there’s been no actual adequate explanation why the urgency to do it this year. We are the sixth richest economy in the world and they choose to steal from pensioners.’
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was forced to defend the government’s decision to her own backbenchers just weeks after the leadership lost a motion on the move at the party’s annual conference.
Last month 53 Labour MPs abstained when the cut was presented to Parliament, representing the strength of discontent in the party.
Lead rebel Rachael Maskell said yesterday: ‘We are really, really worried now, as winter is approaching, about the impact this is going to have, particularly on the health of older people.’
Labour MP and chairwoman of the Work and Pensions Committee Debbie Abrahams raised ‘genuine concerns about those people who are just above that threshold but still remain in poverty.’
Unions attacked the Government for cutting the allowance while ‘leaving the super-rich untouched’
Rebel MP Rachael Maskell said she was worried about the impact the move would have on the health of older people
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Steve Darling suggested cutting winter fuel payments is a ‘regressive approach’ that will ‘add insult to injury’ for pensioners.
He told the Commons: ‘There are 2.7 million pensioners who are over the age of 80 and would be benefiting from the £300 winter fuel allowance.
‘These are among the most vulnerable in our society, and you are quite right how the previous government let them down, but let us not add insult to injury and have the new Government let them down.’
Campaigners believe cutting the universal cold weather payments of up to £300 may be a death sentence for many older vulnerable people.
Around 10million pensioners will lose out on the allowance to save around £1.3billion in the first year.
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