Embedded Files
Steve's Ion and Hughes from Merseyside ARMs attended the winter fuel lobby of Parliament on 7 October. They have provided an account of events on the day,
The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) Lobby of Parliament and rally protesting over cuts to the universal Winter Fuel Payment attracted huge support from MPs, charities, campaign organisations, trade unions, and crucially ordinary people of all ages. There was around 350 at the rally.
Jan Shortt (General Secretary) thanked everyone who supported the day which went well.
Unite the union played a prominent role outside Parliament, and Sharon Graham (General Secretary of Unite) addressed the rally. There was also a hundred in the House of Commons committee room for the Lobby of MPs.
Jan said: “We heard great, crucial, evidence as to why these government-imposed cuts are wrong and must be reversed. There is no doubt they will cause untold hardship, illness, and indeed loss of life if they are allowed to go ahead.
“But we are heartened by the amazing support for our campaign against the government's decision. It is not the end – it’s the beginning.”
Some heartfelt comments from pensioners reps included one woman who had not put on her heating for a year because of high fuel bills. Pensioners on as little as £200 a week will lose out.
Sharon Graham said, “that energy companies have tripled their profits, and that a wealth tax on the top 50 richest families should be the answer rather than picking poor pensioner's pockets. This would raise £23 billion. Why is that such a difficult decision to make?”
Steve Ion (left) and Steve Hughes (right) with Sharon Graham (Unite General Secretary)
MPs who attended and spoke at the Lobby in support of the campaign included: Ian Byrne, John McDonnell, Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan (previous full time official for the NPC), Emma Lewell-Buck, Sharon Hodgson, Richard Burgeon, Luke Taylor, Ayoub Khan and Bambos Charalambous.
The speakers were Caroline Abrahams (Charity Director, Age UK), Jonathan Bean (Policy and Parliament Lead, Fuel Poverty Action), Angela Madden (Chair, WASPI campaign), Maggie Roberts (Vice-Chair at Unite Retired Members), Kamran Mallick (CEO, Disability Rights UK) as well as Sally Tsoukaris (CSPA) and Morgan Vine (Director of Policy & Influencing at Independent Age).
There were also protests in Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland (led by the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum) and right across the UK.
Footnote
Both Steves had written to their respective Labour MPs (Dan Carden) and (Alison McGovern) to request to ask meet them. Despite numerous reminders and phone calls they did not get a response.
On the train journey a call was made to the latter's office and the request email was sent again but as she was a minister she was apparently busy in the House of Commons. Both are both still waiting for a reply.
As such, a decision was taken to join the queue to attend the National Pensioners Convention Rally in the House of Commons where MPs had been invited only to be told that the room booked by an MP was too small and they would not get in.
Some things, it seems, don't change with a change of government.
October 2024
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