Pensioners in Britain’s coldest village have slammed Rachel Reeves’s winter fuel raid.
Temperatures in Shap, Cumbria, fell to a brisk -11.2C on Wednesday night, the lowest recorded by the Met Office this winter.
While the village’s elderly northern community is used to deep freezes, they’ve long had financial support from the Government to help.
However, this year has been different after Chancellor Reeves axed the benefit for 10 million pensioners to save the Treasury £1.6bn a year.
A general view of snow covered fields in Shap, Cumbria
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A general view of the railway lines covered in snow in Shap, Cumbria
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Conservative councillor at Wesmorland and Furness Council Matt Brereton told The Telegraph: “I think they would do well to come and visit some people here to see how difficult it is.
“But so far, I don’t get the impression that they are of a mind to change their policy, which is now coming home to roost. There’s an element of ivory towers in this. They should get out of them – they don’t seem keen to come out to see with their own eyes.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: “Shap is a wonderful, warm community but is facing arctic temperatures as are many other places in Cumbria.
“The community has an above average number of older people, many of whom are on low incomes and who are at serious risk from the severe cold.”
The former Liberal Democrat leader added: “It’s a reminder that the Government’s decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance is cruel and dangerous, they must reverse this dreadful decision immediately.”
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Former leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron
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Andy Beeforth, of the Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “It’s not unusual for between 300 and 500 older people to die in the winter in Cumbria because they can’t afford to heat their homes or conditions that are linked to that.
“Absolutely there could be more this year. We do have a crisis in our hospitals and it’s not looking good. People live in older traditional properties made of stone and there’s not a great deal you can do to insulate them.”
Earlier this week, GB News went to Stanford-le-Hope in Essex where OAPs said Sir Keir Starmer should have been ‘less drastic’ with cuts to Winter Fuel Payments.
Dave Walker, 74, said: “It’s terrible. They’ve done so much wrong since they came in but this has been the worst. People are freezing in their own homes. I voted Labour at the last election but honestly, I wish I hadn’t. I wish I voted for Reform but that’s just my opinion. The whole country is knackered.”
Cars are seen covered in snow in Shap, Cumbria (file pic)
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A Shap resident said: “My neighbour is 74 and he’s struggling. He lives on his own at his farm, he’s got no support and he lost his winter fuel allowance this year.
“His pension isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, he hasn’t got the central heating working and now his only source of heating is some electric heaters.”
Jean Jackon, of Shap Parish Council, said the winter fuel allowance is sorely missed by villagers: “People who look forward to this winter payment every year are now acting very carefully about their energy use.”
A government spokesman said: “We do not want to see anyone suffering this winter, which is why we have continued the warm home discount and extended the household support fund which will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.
“We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,900 this Parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.”
