THURROCK MP Jen Craft has issued a statement on winter fuel allowances after the local Conservatives called on her to loose the government’s plan.
Ms Craft said: “As the Chancellor has highlighted, the outgoing Conservative Government left a hole in the country’s finances, the extent of which they kept hidden – we knew that the situation was dire, but not how bad it truly was. As such difficult decisions have had to be made, such as that to remove universal access to the Winter Fuel Allowance. I have significant sympathy for those affected, but we will always be open and transparent about the tough choices we have to make to protect our economic stability.
The Government is committed to the wellbeing of pensioners and will protect the triple lock on pensions, invest and rebuild public services like the NHS which pensioners rely on and will still provide winter fuel payments to those who need it most.
“I’d also like to highlight the pension credit eligibility check at www.gov.uk or 0800 99 1234 – nationally there are around 800,000 pensioners who are entitled to pension credit who are not claiming and my constituents can always get in touch if they find themselves in hardship and Ill do what I can to help”.
I’ve been a labour voter all my life & am about to become a pensioner. I am dismayed & disgusted at this labour govt. as they take money from retired people to cover union pay demands for members who are already better off than most pensioners. We can’t strike so Starmer & co have decided we’re a soft touch. However, come the next election I, along with many pensioners, will vote tactically to try & ensure labour gets trounced for this!
If there was that big a hole in the finances what were the then Shadow Government doing to miss seeing it.
Also why not stop immigration and foreign aid until finances are sorted out, that would save over £25 BILLION in a year.