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Chancellor pledges to press on with winter fuel squeeze despite risk of public health crisis
Age UK warns that two million pensioners could be in serious trouble this winter
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during her visit to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) in Paisley, Renfrewshire, August 28, 2024
By Berny Torre in Harrogate
By Berny Torre in Harrogate
CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves pledged to press ahead with her winter fuel squeeze on pensioners today despite warnings that she is risking a public health crisis.
The government summoned bosses from the big energy monopolies to talks on helping vulnerable households this winter, but indicated there would be no U-turn on the decision to withdraw help with bills from more than nine million pensioners.
Echoing premier Sir Keir Starmer’s misery message, Ms Reeves has claimed it was a “tough decision” mandated by the “black hole” in public finances inherited from the Tories.
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