Protesters are preparing to target Rachel Reeves over her decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners.
A protest, oraganised by the Unite trade union and the Yorkshire and Humber Pensioners’ Convention, is set to take place in Leeds tomorrow against the cuts in energy bill support, targeting the constituency of the Chancellor.
Local polling conducted by Survation reveals strong opposition to the Winter Fuel Payment changes in Reeves’ Leeds West and Pudsey constituency, with just one-third of voters supporting means testing.
A significant 68 per cent of constituents believe it is unfair that pensioners with weekly incomes as low as £220 would be denied winter fuel payments under the new system.
The survey also highlighted widespread concerns about heating costs, with 72 per cent of respondents worried about their own or family members’ ability to afford heating bills this winter.
These findings come amid growing resistance to the government’s proposed changes to the Winter Fuel Payment scheme.
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Britons are preparing to protest the Chancellor’s decision-making
GETTY / PA
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham delivered a stark criticism of the policy, bringing the campaign directly to the chancellor’s constituency.
“The campaign opposing the pickpocketing of pensioners is now coming to the chancellor’s own back yard. Her own constituents don’t support the policy and neither does the rest of the country,” she said.
Graham called for an urgent policy reversal from the Government.
“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,” she added.
Unite has initiated legal action through a judicial review of the government’s policy, claiming the changes are unlawful.
The union argues the cuts will severely impact millions of older people and could lead to an increase in cold-related deaths.
Yorkshire & Humber Pensioners Convention secretary Fran Postlethwaite warned about the policy’s widespread impact.
“Labour ending the universal winter fuel payment will take away a lifeline for millions of pensioners, at a time when energy bills are increasing,” she said.
Postlethwaite highlighted that around one million pensioners eligible for both pension credit and winter fuel payment are not claiming it.
She suggested alternative funding solutions, noting that “a one per cent tax on the richest one per cent would create £25billion” to support public services.
Going forward older Britons now need to be in receipt of Pension Credit in order to claim the heating assistance support.
This is a means-tested benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
