Veteran ‘terrified’ of Labour’s Budget as charity launches ’emergency’ winter support fund
An Afghanistan veteran in Shropshire says he’s ’terrified’ of Labour’s budget as one charity launches an ‘emergency’ winter support fund.
Liam Murphy served in the Life Guards regiment of the Household Cavalry and fought in combat operations in Afghanistan.
When he left the armed forces, he was on universal credit, and living without any gas.
Ahead of Rachel Reeve’s first budget as Chancellor, Liam says there’s not enough support for veterans and he’s fearful about what’s to come.
He said: “I’m terrified, they don’t know what the cost-of-living crisis is all about, but I’ll get through, you have to get through.
“I’m type 1 diabetic and with having had no gas I’ve got diabetic neuropathy in my legs, so if I don’t keep my legs warm in the winter then my legs are in so much pain and last year it was heating or eating.
“Some people I know who are army veterans, and who haven’t asked for the help that they need, have either ended up homeless, or they bury their head in the sand.
“Sometimes as a veteran I think we do all this work to help the country, and then it feels like we’re just left.”
More than six million people across the country are already living in fuel poverty and there’s worry in communities about what might be coming in this week’s budget.
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A new £2 million ‘emergency’ Winter Support Fund has been launched to offer guidance around energy bills and access to resources for those needing support.
Provided by the Cadent Foundation, Managing Director, Ranjit Blythe, says the money is trying to fill a gap left by government cuts.
She told GB News: “We do envision a lot more people seeking support and our charity partners are saying they’re already seeing more people.
“We know a £2 million fund will only go so far, actually it’s the longer term support we need to give to those in the most deprived areas who are already really really vulnerable.”
60% of Brits say they’re more worried about their bills this winter than this time last year, but on the decisions to be announced, Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, says it’s important for the government to ‘get a grip’ on day-to-day spending.
One of those who’s receiving support from Cadent is 81-year-old Cynthia Chilton, who was referred to the foundation when she had issues with her bills. Losing her winter fuel payment is causing worry.
She said: “I can’t imagine [the budget], it’s going to be tax, tax, tax isn’t it. They’re going to tax everything.
“I’m anxious. I’ve even started thinking now ‘I’ve had that heating on too long’, because we are in for a cold winter.
“I’ve got chronic arthritis in every joint in my body, and I’ve got osteoporosis as well which isn’t very nice to have, and if my joints get cold and I can’t put the heating on and I get cold, then they suffer.”