Leaders of two of the biggest unions have added further pressure on the government over its plan to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners in England and Wales. Unite and the PCS union have both criticised the plan, while Paul Nowak, head of the Trades Union Congress which brings unions together, told the BBC the government should “rethink” the plan and consider other lines of support for pensioners.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a potential rebellion at a vote in the Commons on Tuesday. Sir Keir has said the cut is necessary due to the state of the country’s finances.
The change will mean more than 10 million pensioners will no longer receive the payments of between £200 and £300 a year, which will now only be made to those on low incomes who receive certain benefits. Charities and many MPs are concerned about those still on a relatively small income who will miss out.
The vast majority of those eligible will only receive the payments if they have first claimed pension credit, a state pension top-up. It is estimated that 880,000 eligible pensioners have failed to claim it. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the government needed to be ”big enough and brave enough to do a U-turn” on plans to cut the allowance, calling for the introduction of a wealth tax to boost government finances instead.
Source: BBC
