Credit: NWPA
By Pam Flynn
After huge campaign pressure, Labour have partially U-turned on Winter Fuel Payment cuts. Pam Flynn, Chair of the North West Pensioners Association, takes a closer look.
Following the Labour Party’s meltdown at the May council and mayoral elections in England, we can see that the public made their anger and anxiety about cuts to Winter Fuel Payments and proposed cuts to PIP known to canvassers on the doorstep. And then they either stayed at home (thus withholding their vote) or voted in such a manner that Labour lost two thirds of the council seats it was defending, as well as the Runcorn by-election.
In addition, UNITE the Union and UNISON – along with others – had for months made clear their opposition to both sets of cuts. UNISON passed a strong resolution just last week.
Here in the North West, NWPA members have been active since last autumn, beginning with lobbying the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
Since then, we have participated in the Unite online mass meetings, taken to the streets in Manchester with Fuel Poverty Action in April and lobbied councillors in Wigan and Bolton to take a stand against what we see as punishments inflicted on older and vulnerable people. Affiliates have also been busy in their unions making their anger and opposition clear.
Ten million pensioners lost their winter fuel payment, just as energy prices were on the increase. Age UK published research in February this year that showed that 3 out of 4 older people were too cold in their homes in January. They estimated that about 9.1 million people aged over 66 endured cold homes “some, most or all of the time”.1
The payment was cut from all but the very poorest pensioners. It was necessary to claim and receive Pension Credit to be able to get a payment. The Government’s decision was undoubtedly a disaster. For NWPA members it was clear that the government had lost its moral compass and is on the wrong side of working and retired people.
So, what of the partial restoration? Should we be grateful?
I would say not, and I think NWPA affiliates will back me on this. The announcement that the WFP will be restored to all retired people who receive an income of less than £35,000 and that it will be paid this winter meets two of the three key demands put forward by our members at our meeting held in April.
Given that immediately after the election, the Guardian newspaper was speculating that the threshold for receipt of the WFP would be raised above the measly £11,500 operational last winter, the figure of £35,000 appears generous, and it is welcome that it will be paid this winter.
However, we want to see a full reinstatement of the Winter Fuel Payment to all pensioners. The tax system can be used to recoup the money from those (usually from the commentariat) who judge that many pensioners “don’t need” the financial support. And the government could consider a windfall tax on the £450 billion profit made by energy companies.
Means testing vital services will always lead to dangerous cliff edges. That’s why UNISON, the UK’s biggest union, has joined many unions and organisations calling for universality.
Going forwards, we need to join the dots across the policy agenda. One way you can do this right now is to sign a petition or write to your MP about the harms proposed by the Welfare Reform Bill. We need to keep up the pressure for the government to address poverty and ill health rather than prioritising militarism or “fiscal rules”.
Whilst older people are living longer, we are living with the consequences of that, which can mean living as older, iller and more frail persons.2
To deal with this, we want the government to demonstrate that it is on our side, to show boldness of ambition and some bravery. Not just bread, but roses too.
Pam Flynn is the elected Chair of the North West Pensioners Association.
