The rally pensioners are staging tomorrow in London against Labour’s winter fuel cuts will be the first of many such events if the Government does not respond to the almost universal condemnation of their cruel policy to scrap the winter fuel payment for 10 million pensioners.
Older people will travel from all over the country to attend, but I am conscious that those most in need of the payment are unlikely to be there, either because their health prevents long journeys on public transport, or they can’t afford the travel costs.
As the Express has pointed out, it is those pensioners over 80 who will be disproportionately hit, losing £300 at a time when they are most susceptible to the cold.
And this protest is not about protecting a perk, as some Government sycophants would have it.
It is about trying to save a rise in unnecessary deaths this winter.
Keir Starmer ‘will take away pensioners’ free prescriptions next. (Image: Getty)
Director of Silver Voices Dennis Reed. (Image: Andy Stenning)
The Government has withheld its impact assessment of scrapping this benefit, against normal protocols, because of the public outrage that would be caused.
How many extra deaths does the DWP estimate will be caused by this cruel policy?
What about the cost of the extra pressures placed on the NHS dealing with the serious consequences of cold, damp homes? We have a right to know.
Some charities appear to be arguing that extending the winter fuel payment to a few extra benefit claimants would represent progress.
We respectfully disagree, as it is the millions of older people just above any benefit eligibility limit because they have modest savings or a small private pension, who always lose out.
Urgent steps must be taken to protect the 2-3 million senior citizens who will suffer the most from the loss of the winter fuel payment.
How can any Government knowingly plunge that many people into fuel poverty and winter misery?
The rally will also hear from me about the dangers in letting this issue drop.
If the Government successfully rides out this storm, they will inevitably squeeze senior citizens further, perhaps by means-testing free prescriptions, bus passes and even the state pension itself.
It is time for older people to fight for our dignity in our remaining years on this planet.
