Unite, the UK’s leading union, which has led the campaign to reinstate the winter fuel payment, is calling on the government to reinstate it in full, without further delay,

 

Government U-turn

 

The union made its call after it became clear that the government will perform a U-turn on cutting the winter fuel payment for all but the poorest pensioners, as part of next week’s spending review. However, It has emerged that the government is considering forcing pensioners to declare the payment when submitting a tax return so that it is clawed back.

 

Winter fuel massive cut

 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Most people now recognise that the winter fuel cut was a massive mistake.

 

“Unite has been calling on the government to scrap the cut from day one and I was pleased when the PM finally acknowledged this.

 

“This government needs to learn that when you are in a hole, you should stop digging. You can’t leave pensioners in limbo while you work out plans for taxing the families of the deceased - just reverse it now.

 

“We are the sixth richest economy in the world, and we need to stop picking the pockets of pensioners and bring in a wealth tax.”

 

Unite campaign

 

Since the government announced that it was cutting the winter fuel payment Unite has mounted a political and grassroots campaign to get the decision overturned. This included organising a vote at Labour conference opposing the cut in winter fuel payments, and grassroots campaigning which got the cut partially reversed in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

Unite is also pursuing a judicial review to overturn the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment.

 

ENDS