The head of one of the largest trade unions in the United Kingdom will appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday to overturn the government’s decision to restrict winter fuel payments to the elderly.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, a union with more than 1 million members in the UK and Ireland, criticised the current UK prime minister and his government over fuel payments on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme:
I think the priority that I’d like to hear from him is that he’s going to reverse the decision on the winter fuel allowance. It’s a cruel policy. He needs to reverse it. And I’d like him to say that he’s made a misstep and to reverse that policy. I’d also like him to say that we’re not going to take this country down austerity mark 2. People voted for change. They need to see change. And he needs to reverse the winter fuel allowance and let people have that £300 they can put their heating on this winter.
The Labour government argues that tough decisions have had to be made after the previous Conservative government left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. On the other hand, the government claims the measure will save around £1.3 billion in the 2024/25 financial year, and then £1.5 billion in the following years, as these funds are essential to stimulate economic growth. Graham said:
The reality here is it’s a misstep. You’ve got a situation where the poorest in our society, the first thing that Labour does is take away the winter fuel allowance from the poorest in our society whilst they leave the most wealthiest people pretty much untouched.
The scandal over cuts to winter fuel allowances risks overshadowing the Labour Party’s annual conference in the northern city of Liverpool, which Starmer is keen to turn into a celebration of the party’s return to power after 14 years.
The Labour government believes it can withstand criticism of its policies in the short term, hoping that by controlling spending it can create the conditions for more investment and growth. The Budget will be in limbo at the end of October, according to the government. Starmer has warned of tough times ahead, so the prime minister has come under criticism for being too pessimistic, which has led to a fall in consumer confidence.
“Britain is in crisis, and we need to make very, very different choices. We’re calling on Labour not to pick the pockets of pensioners, but to have a wealth tax on the biggest and richest 1% in society,” Graham said at the TUC conference in Brighton.
