For Immediate Release
The Workers Party, London Branch, is outraged by the Labour government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments—a move that will push thousands of pensioners into fuel poverty this winter. At a time when energy companies are recording record profits, these cuts are nothing less than a cruel abandonment of society’s most vulnerable.
This policy hits hard at London’s elderly residents, many of whom already struggle to make ends meet as the cost of living spirals out of control. The Labour Party has shown it is no better than the Tories when it comes to turning its back on those in need.
A Workers Party Call to Action
Sam Habeeb, Workers Party London Secretary, did not mince words:
“This decision will force pensioners to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. Labour’s promise to protect the vulnerable is nothing more than empty rhetoric. Pensioners, who’ve worked hard and paid into the system their entire lives, are now being left to freeze by a government that seems more concerned with corporate profits than human dignity.
This is more than a betrayal—it’s a moral failure. The elderly and vulnerable deserve respect and support, not to be treated as a financial afterthought.”
Labour’s Austerity Dressed Up as Progress
Winter fuel payments were introduced to give pensioners a safety net during the coldest months. Cutting these payments, especially during an energy crisis, is a cynical attack on those least able to bear the cost. Labour’s defence of these cuts rings hollow in the face of rising energy bills and widespread financial hardship.
The facts speak for themselves:
• Fuel poverty is soaring: Over 25% of pensioners in London are already struggling to pay their energy bills, and this figure is expected to climb sharply this winter.
• Disabled pensioners hit hardest: Cuts to payments will leave the most vulnerable pensioners—those with disabilities—unable to afford basic heating.
• Cold-related deaths will rise: Last year, over 10,000 deaths in England were linked to cold homes. With these cuts, that number is set to rise.
Labour talks of “hard choices,” but this is not about fiscal responsibility—it’s about priorities. Once again, it’s ordinary people, not the wealthy or the corporations, who are paying the price.
Workers Party’s Vision for Change
The Workers Party believes that no one should have to worry about staying warm in their home. We are calling for:
1. Immediate Reinstatement of Winter Fuel Payments: This basic lifeline must be restored to prevent pensioners from freezing this winter.
2. Energy Sector Reform: Nationalising energy companies to ensure affordable energy for all and ending profiteering by the few.
3. Progressive Taxation on Energy Profits: A windfall tax on energy giants to fund support for those in need, ensuring the burden is borne by the profiteers, not the public.
4. Universal Winter Energy Support: Beyond reinstating payments, we propose targeted grants for all vulnerable households to protect against rising heating costs.
Labour Is No Longer Fit for Purpose
Sam Habeeb added:
“Labour has abandoned the very people it was founded to protect. Pensioners across London are seeing through the spin. The party’s leadership is more interested in playing it safe with the establishment than standing up for those who need them most.
When pensioners are dying in cold homes, it is clear Labour has lost its moral compass. It’s time to move on from this charade and demand a government that will genuinely prioritise people over profit.”
Join the Workers Party: A Real Alternative
The Workers Party is building a movement for real change. Labour and the Tories are two sides of the same coin, with policies that consistently fail working people, pensioners, and the vulnerable.
“If you’ve had enough of being let down by those in Westminster, join us,” said Habeeb. “We’re the only party fighting for a fairer, kinder, and more equal society. It’s time to stand together and demand better.”
For More Information or to Join the Fight:
Contact:
Workers Party London Branch
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