Retired miner Billie Pounder has received assistance from the Prime Minister’s office after sharing his financial struggles on GB News.
The Labour voter, who lives in a small bungalow, had previously spoken about using a plug-in heater to warm his home due to high energy costs.
His plight caught the attention of Keir Starmer, and following his appearance on the channel, Pounder was contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions, offering help with filling out forms to potentially increase his benefits due to ill health.
He told Emily Carver: “The Prime Minister’s actually got the work pensions to get in touch yesterday and arranged for somebody to come and help me fill forms in and they said that I’m allowed a bit more with my ill health.”
Billie Pounder shared his struggles with GB News
GB News
Emily noted the Government’s swift response to Pounder’s situation.
She said: “So your interview that you did with Patrick last week on GB News No10, the Government, was clearly listening and they thought, ‘gosh, we need to actually do something about this’.”
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Pounder expressed gratitude for the assistance, saying a woman from the department had been “really nice” and offered to send someone to help him at home.
He explained: “People like me that have never claimed benefits. I haven’t a clue about this stuff, you know?”
However, when asked whether he would continue to vote Labour he said: “Definitely not, I don’t think any of the parties will do any good. They’re just all just in it for themselves.”
Hitting out at the Government he said: “I don’t think their map goes past Wetherby.
Number 10 must have heard Billy’s story
PA
“Maybe they spilt some coffee on the bit from Wetherby up to Scotland because nothing happens in the North East. It’s all down the country.
“It’s colder up here and I think we get nothing locally.”
Emily agreed: “We’ve been hearing quite a lot about that.
Billy Pounder shared his story on GB News
GB News
“People living up here think that Westminster has forgotten them. And there’s nothing in the Budget for them.”
Despite the assistance offered, Pounder remains concerned about the upcoming winter.
He described his electric heater as a “godsend”, moving it around his home to stay warm.
