Pensioners protest outside Rotherham MP office on winter fuel cuts
It comes as the government continues its plans to make budget cuts
Pensioners have gathered outside the office of a South Yorkshire MP to protest against the government's cutting of winter fuel payments.
Several people demonstrated outside the constituency office for Jake Richards, MP for Rother Valley - close to Rotherham.
The protests were organised by local residents, who believed that older people in the community will bear the brunt of the impact.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, demonstrator Lynne Laird said: "We’ve worked all our lives. We’ve never claimed anything, nothing ever. I think it’s disgusting."
Mick Blunt, another protester, added that the winter fuel payment ‘took the pressure off’ his household bills last year, and helped keep the house warm to alleviate symptoms of his arthritis.
“You work all your life from being 15 years of age, you’ve asked for nothing, you get to our age, and the little bit of what you get is taken off you,” he added. “Because we’ve got a little bit of savings we don’t get pension credit.””
Mr Richards said that since the decision, he and his team have faced abuse which was not acceptable – but they remain ready to help anyone affected by the cut.
The government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment has sparked widespread criticism, with Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly calling it an “unbelievably foolish choice”.
Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have defended the move, citing a need to address a £22 billion deficit in public finances inherited from the previous Conservative government.
As of this winter, around 10 million pensioners will lose the winter fuel payment, with 71 per cent of those with a disability and 83 per cent of those aged 80 or over set to miss out. Pensioners will be informed by letter in the coming weeks if they will receive the benefit, with payments scheduled for November or December.