Campaigning pensioners have quizzed Bolton’s three MPs on the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments. The controversial budget cut means that older people across the country will lose one off payments, meant to help support them during the colder winter months. The Bolton and District Pensioners Association have run a campaign against the cuts and on the Friday before chancellor Rachel Reeves’s budget met the borough’s three MPs on the matter.
Association chair Alan Johnson, 76, said: "I was surprised to hear the MPs say they voted for the cut because they "trusted the Chancellor Rachel Reeves". “How can you trust someone who has not provided you with all the facts?” The pensioners association have campaigned against cuts to the winter fuel allowance (Image: Public) He added: “People are sick of hearing there will be jam tomorrow. “Keir Starmer said there would be no return to austerity, what does he think taking £300 off Pensioners is?” In September MPs voted by 348 votes to 228 to restrict winter fuel payments to just pensioners who receive universal credit or other means tested benefits.
In Bolton, the association says that around 39,000 older people will lose out because of the cut and claims the government did not carry out an Equality Impact Assessment. The group members took the opportunity at the meeting to make their feelings known to the three MPs, Yasmin Qureshi, Kirith Entwistle and Phil Brickell and to ask questions. Martin Gallagher.