Commenting on the prime minister’s comments on changes to the winter fuel allowance and welfare secretary Liz Kendall’s speech to the IPPR today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“At long last ministers seem to have listened. Removing the winter fuel allowance from hard-pressed pensioners was never a great idea.
“No one would ever argue wealthy pensioners should have kept the winter fuel cash, but snatching it from all but the very poorest was a terrible decision.
“The government must make good on its mistake and restore the allowance to those who genuinely need it.
“Ministers now need to look again at their unpalatable welfare cuts. The wrongs of previous Conservative administrations won’t be righted by going after the most vulnerable in society.
“Employment support might get some people back into jobs. But it’s not enough to justify the severity of cuts faced by the many disabled people who need that support to work.
“If ministers want to encourage people back to work, they need to make sure work pays. That means going after employers paying poverty wages, not those trying to survive on benefits.
“The chancellor should revise her fiscal rules so the government can reinstate the winter fuel allowance, row back on its unpopular welfare cuts and invest in the UK’s damaged public services.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
