In response to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision on Sunday to revoke the winter fuel payment for over 10M pensioners, the trade union Unite called on the government to do a "U-turn" on its policy of picking "the pocket of pensioners."UK trade union Unite has called for a "U-turn" on plans to revoke the winter fuel payment for over 10M pensioners — which will be debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday — accusing the government of picking "the pocket of pensioners."
Starmer called the policy to strip the £200-£300 ($261-$392) energy payment per person a "tough" decision but cited its aim of fixing a £22B ($28B)"black hole" in government spending. However, it's reportedly estimated to save just £1B-£2B ($1.3B-$2.6B) this fiscal year.The winter fuel payment was introduced in 1997 by Gordon Brown to help the elderly pay for heating during the coldest months. In July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the previously universal payment would now be given only to the very poorest pensioners who receive pension credit.
Despite today's headlines about the Unite union, Keir Starmer's decision here is about benefitting the labor unions at the expense of millions of pensioners. Unions donate millions to Starmer's Labour Party, and in return, he's going to steal from the winter fuel fund and reallocate it toward trade union salaries. Starmer is a reverse Robin Hood — stealing from the working class to give to the donor class.
Starmer and his cabinet members didn't come to this decision lightly or randomly, as they understand the fears many British citizens have at the moment. However, this policy, which will not affect the poorest people — many of whom have yet to apply for the winter fuel allowance and will still be able to — is a necessary budget cut to fill a massive budget hole left by the previous Conservative government.