Unite has long campaigned against the winter fuel cuts announced last year and is cautiously optimistic that the government has at last seen sense and begun to reverse them. However, details are light, heavily caveated and will not be finalised until the autumn. Unite will continue to press the government to fully reverse all cuts to winter fuel allowances.
 
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Whilst this announcement on winter fuel looks like a first step in the right direction, pensioners’ minds need to be put at rest now – rather than dangling a promise to make a move in the autumn.
 
"Unite has always been clear that any and all cuts to winter fuel are simply picking the pockets of pensioners while the richest in society keep getting wealthier.
 
"The winter fuel decision should be fully reversed, and money should be found instead by implementing a wealth tax on the super-rich.”
 
Unite is pursuing a judicial review to overturn the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments to all but the poorest pensioners.
 
ENDS