Labour accused of ‘turning their backs’ on pensioners with winter fuel scrap: ‘They don’t care about people!’
The Labour Government has been accused of “turning their backs” on pensioners amid their plans to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.
Ofgem has also announced that household bills are to increase by almost £150 from October across England, Scotland and Wales.
Director of Age UK, Caroline Abrahams, says the change to winter fuel payments is “reckless and wrong”, particularly in light of Ofgem’s announcement.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband insisted that the winter fuel scrap and increase in energy bills is down to the “failed energy policy” Labour inherited from the Tories.
Speaking to GB News, veteran pensioner Charles Beckham criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for “not caring about people”, particularly pensioners who have “paid in all their lives”.
Beckham fumed: “It’s going to hit me just the same as it will hit everybody else. I’m not on benefits, I am a pensioner. I have an Army pension because I did 22 years in the army, so I can’t claim benefits.
“In order to get benefits, you need to have an income of less than £215 a week, which I can’t see anybody living on that.”
Hitting out at Labour amid their latest decisions on winter fuel and energy bills, Beckham claimed politicians “only see two classes of people”.
“As far as the politicians are concerned, there are only two classes of people. There are the very rich and the very poor, they don’t care about the people in the middle.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
‘I’m a staunch Labour voter – and I am ASHAMED!’ Britons tell GB News of their fury as energy bills to increase by almost £150Brexiteers fume as ‘white-flag’ Remainer tipped for ‘chummy’ job from StarmerStarmer branded ‘anti-British’ as PM accused of ‘using riots to implement open borders’
When asked by host Martin Daubney how he feels this will come across to British pensioners, Beckham told GB News that the Government is “turning its back” on elderly Britons.
Beckham told Martin: “They don’t really care, do they? I have no time for any politicians. You’ll hear from them and get all the promises when they’re coming up to election time.
“But once the election has been and gone, they’re only interested in themselves.”
Labour MP Rachael Maskell has publicly urged the Government to “think again” about cutting Winter Fuel Payments, noting she was “deeply concerned” by the decision.
Maskell said: “I know that there are many colleagues who are concerned about these measures and certainly we’ve written to the Chancellor and have asked for a meeting so that we can discuss these measures in full.
“I know in speaking to Liz Kendall, the secretary of state for work and pensions, she has clearly stated to MPs that no one should go cold this winter.
“And we need to ensure that that comes to fruition and that old people feel safe and warm in their own homes.”