‘They are already struggling!’ Pensioners delivered another ‘kick in the teeth’ from Labour after being left ‘terrified’ to switch on heating
GB News host Dawn Neesom has warned the latest price cap increase comes as millions of elderly Britons are already “terrified to put their heating on”.
Pensioners have been dealt another blow as energy bills are set to rise again in January and Dawn slammed it as “another kick in the teeth” to millions of elderly people across the UK.
The 1.2 per cent rise in energy costs follows October’s 10 per cent increase, putting further pressure on those struggling with basic pensions during the winter months.
Ofgem announced the typical household energy bill will increase from £1,717 to £1,738 per year from January 1, affecting homes across England, Scotland and Wales.
Speaking on GB News Dawn Neesom said: “I just feel like every sector has been given a kicking – farmers, old people, even young people with university tuition fees. What are they doing?”
Agreeing with his co-host, Stephen Dixon said: “The way pensioners are getting it at the moment, you don’t go for a group who are economically poor, vulnerable if you want to use that type of language, but also people who have worked and served the country all their lives and they’re now wanting to retire. It is the very last group you should go after, isn’t it?”
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Dawn replied: “Well they’re not going to go on strike, are they? Funny enough, there is no union for pensioners who are donating to the Labour Party. Call me cynical.”
Stephen added: “I tell you what strikes me about the energy price cap going up in January is that it’s very little difference.
“It’s just over £21 over a year that it’s going up, which for most people in, in normal times you’d go, well that doesn’t matter but actually for some people it’s so bad, it is another kick in the teeth.”
Dawn also argued: “It is ridiculous isn’t it? People are terrified to put their heating on already and we’re not even in December.”
The comments come as around 10 million pensioners will miss out on Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300 this year.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Older people, struggling without their winter fuel payment, who were praying for a reduction in energy prices to help them in the New Year, will be bitterly disappointed today.”
She warned that millions of older people on low or modest incomes who don’t receive Pension Credit are facing particular hardship.
“If you are an older person for whom every penny counts, managing your energy bills until the rise in your State Pension starts coming through from April just got harder,” she added.
Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, acknowledged the ongoing challenges.
He said: “While today’s change means the cap has remained relatively stable, we understand that the cost of energy remains a challenge for too many households.”
Jarvis urged customers to explore available options, noting that households could save up to £140 by shopping around.
The Ofgem director also pointed to international factors affecting prices, warning: “Our reliance on volatile international markets – which are affected by factors such as events in Russia and the Middle East – means the cost of energy will continue to fluctuate.”