Pensioners relying on “Warm Banks” have hit out at Sir Keir Starmer over Labour’s decision to slash Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million OAPs.
During a visit to Stanford-le-Hope in Essex, OAPs told the People’s Channel that they wanted to deliver a simple message to the Prime Minister.
Edwina Pedder said: “It’s been dreadful. We’re losing money. It’s like they want to kill old people. Most people think we’re all well off but we’re not.
“Labour said they wanted to fill the black hole but they just blame everyone else. The past Government, Covid just everything. I can understand if they had done something less drastic like cut it in half but it’s so poor.
Stanford-le-Hope in Essex
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“We know someone, a friend of ours, who has been forced to wear their dressing gown all day. Someone else we know just sits in bed. It’s not been bad for us but we’ve gone back to having to use our hot water bottles. It’s just shocking.”
Husband Donald Pedder added: “I wonder if any of those in the cabinet have any old relatives they thought about.”
The Pedder’s comments, which were shared by many OAPs across the bellwether seat, come after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that Labour would means-test the up to £300 pensioner perk.
The funds, which were previously universal for Britons of state pension age, would no longer apply to around 10 million pensioners.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meeting Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves
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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.”
Sue Ivings said: “Well I’m feeling the cold here. It’s knocked off a load of money off people who need it the most.”
Another resident added: “It’s freezing but you have to make do and get warm any way you can really. I’ve just stuck an extra jumper on.”
Anne Jones also told the People’s Channel said: “They need to put pensioners first. So many people are going cold and they don’t need to.”
Photos from Stanford-le-Hope in Essex
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The fury comes shortly after a Freedom of Information request revealed civil servants working the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) have been awarded bonuses of up to £14,000 while taking Winter Fuel Payments away from pensioners.
In 2023-24, the DWP paid out £645,685 in end-of-year bonuses to senior civil servants, figures obtained by the Daily Mail as part of a FOI request have revealed, enough to cover the Winter Fuel Payments for more than 3,000 pensioners.
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.”