Unite union boss steps up call for Starmer to reverse 'cruel' winter fuel allowance cut

The leader of Unite has urged the government to reverse its decision to cut pensioners' winter fuel allowance, calling the policy "cruel".
The union plans to raise the issue at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
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[@twisteddancer7773]

Maybe the unions should pull out all their funding to the Labour party. That would change their minds

[@tonyfincham6126]

All Unions should back her in the interest of their past members that will suffer under this administration

[@catherinemartin6258]

@@tonyfincham6126😂

[@notyourordinarygran]

Yeah, right. They are taking money from pensioners to give to union workers...train drivers.

[@angelanicholson951]

I think its self preservation. They'll be no huge payouts when the party disapears, which it will.

[@GeorgeKent-e2j]

The train drivers got their rise so they're happy

[@sidsod1616]

Why dont the unions use their muscle to restore the fuel allowance like they did for the £10,000 pay rise for train drivers .

[@zattanna74]

cause they wont strike, remember the strikes were all planned to make the country a mess to get labour into power and then receive there pay day and now they are crying when they are major factor in getting them into power

[@silverreverence6176]

Because they don’t get sub money from pensioners, it’s all about cash.

[@tonyfincham6126]

It will be interesting to see if they back it in support of their old train driver Union members.

[@steveste7922]

Unite union , offering a few words weeks later. the distress its causing they, should be ashamed. Majority of uk workforce aren't in a union. it only empowers communists

[@ratinatrap7815]

Crikey....never thought I'd ever be in agreement with a union boss!!!

[@oldbeadbird]

But she won't answer the question about the party £millionaire funders posed by Diane, is she ignoring Diane ?

[@mattmathematics3591]

Why not unions are amazing

[@CaroleNowell]

Little chance of him doing that! He has no empathy for anyone!!!

[@lindamillar2505]

He won't change hos mind unfortunately

[@nickyburnell]

Yeah he does, anybody not from the UK

[@mariachester950]

Only over 80s get 300....under 200...and why was this ....uk penion the lowest still in europe....

[@SteveSmith-kf9on]

The ego is bigger

[@deano_bites]

And at the time time stop bullying all the vulnerable people who are seriously mentally unwell i did not vote for this madness

[@Dai-Verse-IT]

I left the union UNITE this year because of misappropriation of funds being sponsoring Starmer. I am a pensioner, my last job gave me a 29% reduction in salary over 5 years, then made redundant. Union useless, n3ver go back to th3m. Talk is cheap, rail tickets not.

[@barryedmunds]

Well stammer likes bribes FACT...100.000 of bribes in 8weeks disgrace

[@-jz5mm]

First part is right but not under this encumbant ant

[@russellmurray8102]

I've said this before, I'm a pensioner but I don't know any pensioner who is a millionaire

[@elizabethdavis9119]

There are plenty of millionaires & billionaires who shouldn’t be receiving the allowance. But there are more poor pensioners who will suffer greatly by not receiving it.

[@darrencartledge6530]

But how many have 20k a year,30k,40k,get the picture. Not all pensioners are millionaire's,but not all are poor.

[@50angeleyes]

Me neither. I know a few who are comfortable with nice houses and cars, taking holidays but the majority are like myself. On a state pension, I have a small work pension that stops me from getting pension credit but I am on a low income with no way of boosting it. I’m 73 and I won’t be able to just put my heating on whenever I feel like it. It’s just disgusting doing this to elderly people while the Labour Party are getting freebies and having their energy bills paid. It’s said that they want people to die so they will save money….. what about our families who love us, what a disgusting thing to do to their relatives. Absolute shame on the Labour Party for this decision

[@BrianWillcox-qp2hr]

Mick Jagger is, so is Rod Stewart.

[@kevinjackson6387]

@@darrencartledge6530but have they not worked hard all there life’s and payed into the system why should they be penalised,if I thought I was going to get tax to the hilt like this when I’m older ,I would have sat on my arse like a lot of our lot that never worked and claim everything going play the system then moan when they lose abit of benefit which they prob spent on sky tv or cigarettes and not the heating anyway.yes I think there should be a cap on who gets it ,but not old age peps who have £20.000 that’s not a fantastic amount of monies by todays standards,and like I said worked hard to get that money ,I would cap it at £50.000.also all these politicians should lead by example and not have any heating allowance but we all know that won’t change

[@Sensiblesally]

This woman has more brains that our deputy prime minister and reeves put together. Why haven’t we got people like her in government instead of the planks we have? How has Angela, Rayner Jess Phillips and Diane Abbott got where they in this party?

[@jenniferbarry5887]

I would hope that any pensioners still in a union make their feelings very clear. Labour are a disgrace.

[@CaroleNowell]

@@jenniferbarry5887 I belong to Unite Community and I’m proud of this interview!

[@CaroleNowell]

@@jenniferbarry5887 I’m a proud member of Unite Community.

[@MaureenSmith-tg2xz]

It's so cruel I would not be so angry about cutting winter fuel allowance if I was on 170 thousand pound a year yhese politicians don't live in the real world when most pensioners are on less than 12 thousand pound a year politicians make me sick they are so greedy this labour government is sucks

[@jdavis460]

I believe our pension is the lowest in Europe as well.

[@harrydamien6346]

"Most pensioners are on less than 12 thousand pounds per year." This is factually wrong. The vast majority of pensioners are wealthy. 27% are millionaires. There are 13 million pensioners in the UK. Only 1.4 million of them are on around £12,000 per year or less. Stop lying.

[@Colin623]

@@harrydamien6346 Clearly a supporter of the new Nasty party !

[@Oceansgreen]

They don’t give a toss about the pensioners.. .they’re sitting there in their warm houses, not worrying about how much fuel they burn…same old story “ I’m alright jack”.

[@silondon9010]

Cut foreign Aid not help for British pensioners 😢

[@Bhag-p5w]

Cut funding Ukraine

[@sharonpearson420]

foreign aid is a means to bribe governments to allow our company's to access to there raw materials

[@Colin623]

Exactly, the very fact Starmer increased foreign aid by £1.5 Billion to foreign governments while taking the very same amount from pensioners, absolutely appalling!

[@patlaing4489]

Good that the Unions are getting involved in the Winter Fuel Allowance row .

[@Ronald-o9x]

I like Sharon, talks the bloody truth not like starmer and the rest. I will never vote labour again, never!!!!

[@nicksimmons7234]

Unions sticking up for wealthy pensioners. Well done.

[@paulbird3235]

Sharon for PM,

[@englanduk6131]

​@@paulbird3235This woman is a big part of the problem!.. Her and her ilk spent all the build up to the election telling their members to vote labour and they also pay millions into labour coffers.... Unions are not to be trusted!.. left wing activists control them!!!

[@Silver-st2zq]

Same here, never again.

[@davidmchugh5017]

@Ronald-o9x enjoy your votes for Conservative right

[@Martynjs]

Unite should stop donating to the Labour Party then!!!!!

[@gherkamum]

The "Winter Fuel Payments" is just peanuts, massive mistake by Labour....

[@dalebenton3354]

awwww what a shame,Maybe people will wake up knowing where the money come from,Tax payers again,Im not paying my taxes to any one to pay for their heating costs,Go live in the freezing cold

[@willsommers6477]

​@@dalebenton3354 w⚓️

[@pennylando3145]

@@dalebenton3354 The people who currently need help with their heating costs are the same people who were once taxpayers themselves. They have made their contribution to those younger than themselves because it was their taxes that paid for their education, healthcare and all the other services the younger generations used for near-on two decades before they paid any taxes. That's how this system works.

[@Colin623]

@@dalebenton3354 Tell Abdul that and his mates who just landed in Dover !

[@jeanraines3215]

UNITE Boss stop donating to Labour and give to Age care

[@jdavis460]

Starmer says he’s doing us a favor by not sitting in the stand at his football club. Why should we pay for his security at all even if as says he sits in a box. That’s his choice and his social life why should tax payers finance that?

[@CaroleNowell]

@@jdavis460 Corbyn’s a former Leader (the PM Starmer scuppered with his deceit!) and he sits happily with FANS. They are his bodyguards, I bet!! ❤️

[@paulamurphy9761]

Pay for his own football box starmer has the money 2,discrasful behaviour, should pay his own heating bill 2 ,give the pensions the money back to pay there heating bill

[@peterdavies8307]

This policy of stopping the heating for pensioners is the beginning of the end of the Labour Party.

[@TW19567]

YouGov polled that the policy isn’t that unpopular. The vast majority of pensioners don’t need it and use it for holiday spending money.

[@johnboro64]

@@TW19567how dare they have holidays

[@BrinJay-s4v]

@@TW19567 Not in my circles.

[@TW19567]

@@johnboro64 ow please. The Daily Express is bleating that all pensioners are going to freeze this winter. When the majority of pensioners are wealthy enough to use it as holiday spending money it’s very clear that this is not a cruel policy at all.

[@janetsymons]

They couldn’t wait to do it to the pensioners , it is disgusting, especially when they claim second home heating allowances

[@Michael-yq2ut]

I didn't know a lot about Sharon bit she talks a lot of sense. Any normal person taking gifts from a customer or someone who could gain influence would most probably get sacked.

[@Ronald-o9x]

Just to add, I hope Sharon gets tore into this inept labour government at the conference. She is my kind of person who speaks the truth, unlike Rayner and starmer who are non representative of true labour values!! Sharon gets my vote anytime, a true honest good person!

[@stanthesteelguitarman8228]

Sharon for Prime Minister!

[@facehugger3]

Those warm and comfy ILLEGAL immigrant hotels have to be paid for one way or another.

[@adriftinaboat3452]

Illegal immigrants aren’t housed in Hotels-refugees waiting to be checked are-get your facts right

[@adriftinaboat3452]

Unlike illegal immigrants - who are not lawfully allowed in the country - asylum seekers are entitled to housing while their asylum applications are being processed ( here ).

[@FrostekFerenczy]

Only 5% of immigrants are illegal, and even then it's because they can't apply from outside the country, because the Tories haven't made that possible like a real government would easily be able to do.

[@richardguest4574]

@@adriftinaboat3452 Great - so they stay warm, while our old age pensioners freeze.

[@993Redveg]

@@richardguest4574 It is not about pensioners versus migrants. The people who should be paying to keep pensioners warm are the 1% richest in the country. They are the "broad backs" the Labour-In-Name-Only Party keeps saying should bear the greatest load. But talk is cheap. The unions should cut off funding to the 'Labour' Party - that is something Sharon Graham will not do. This is something that would really bring the message home to them. That, and us creating a new party for workers by hand and brain - during their working lives and afterwards - to take the place of the party that now does nothing but s*it on us at will.

[@ipohtennischannel5482]

Maybe this winter any pensioners in danger of suffering from hypothermia could be given an invite to one of the £14,000 birthday parties 'donated' to members of Starmer's Cabinet? At least the pensioners would be safe and warm for a few hours...

[@margaretcunningham9092]

Why does no one mention the £10 million per day we are spending on illegal immigrants??

[@suejames6808]

Absolutely clear and strong interview!!.. this woman is a proper Union leader and is saying what everyone is saying and thinking about this government and what they are doing AND what they SHOULD be doing!!!… It’s Bl**dy Obvious !!… we need other people like her to speak up and put pressure on political elites..NOW!!..because we can’t have 5 years of this disastrous government … Already hated in 12 weeks of virtual dictatorship.. by an unrepresentative party with a dangerous agenda 🤬🤬🤬

[@Ed30675]

Yep... My first and last time I voted for the party that I thought looked after the less well off..I was wrong...

[@catherinemartin6258]

@@Ed30675 weirdo

[@janwynne-woodhouse5144]

She isn't speaking for me

[@misterpositive9337]

People with Asthma will also be vulnerable in the winter.

[@dalebenton3354]

awwww what a shame,Try harder to beath then,Go elect for more clowns

[@sbalmer132]

What a shame that people like this intelligent compassionate woman are not in Government instead of the planks that are there.

[@finjay21fj]

Dont tell him to reverse the damaging path he's chosen, tell him to clear off!

[@nowhere982]

Starmer didnt make a mistake...HE is the mistake.

[@murraydonaldson3646]

Most of us pensioners were in the union and fought for conditions in the workplace and even contributed to the labour party what fools in hindsight . so see what the government is doing to their ex members they should stand up for us because retirement is coming to them in the future and it's criminal what starmer is getting away with

[@johnbellamy6449]

exacly that .

[@NancyGray-ug9jk]

Stammer probably knows he will only get one term but also knows how much money he will make once out of power he is just the same as most politicians in it for the money

[@gavinsmith9564]

He's another Grifter, was Remain then switched to Hard Brexiteer, couldn't care less about the country like all Brexiteers.

[@violinstar5948]

Free Gear Keir and Rachel Freeze will be warm

[@Colin623]

At our expense !

[@LimaOscar88]

If the trade unions really wanted Labour to U-turn on the winter fuel allowance they could easily make them. The Labour party are totally in their pockets.

[@jenniferparry8709]

Not all pensioners are well off. Stop giving it to those who are wealthy

[@gherkamum]

Labour find Billions for others..

[@Colin623]

They increased donations to foreign countries by £1.5 Billion, oddly the very same amount they took from our own pensioners !

[@nowhere982]

Any family getting less than £20,000pa should get the allowance. OR renationalise energy companies and end the obscene profits.

[@VV-bk1wv]

I would love to hear TwoTierKeir is stepping down

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

Labour are tories mk2. Politicians have no humility and that's always been the problem. Labour took 4 million from a Cayman Island hedge fund is that even legal if they don't pay tax here?

[@paulbrightwell3621]

She's not wrong

[@Sensiblesally]

The biggest mistake Starmer made was coming in to politics in the first place. He couldn’t be more hated if he tried. People young and old will never forgive or forget, especially if they have parents and grandparents that die over the coming winter cold 🥶

[@mariefinnigan-yi6pp]

I have never heard of a well off pensioner to be honest. Labour are disgusting knowing. None of the illegal immigrants will freeze this winter or starve that is the only people labour care about imo

[@brianmarshallsay2107]

So the small amount saved by stuffing pensioners is crucial. How much are MP's being stuffed because after all we can't afford to be generous with anything?

[@LuzDoSol-yr5bv]

Sharon is absolutely right when it comes to political decisions and not tax from the top 1%, and Labour chooses the pensioners.

[@magsk6721]

She makes so much sense ,pity Starmer couldn’t follow her lead !

[@macjim]

And remember many pensioners are still working because the state pension is poor, those workers can’t afford to retire on the pittance payed out as a state pension. Try living on £800+ every four weeks especially in winter when the winter fuel payment is no longer available. Many workers would lose £1,500 a month if the retired. This lady talked sense 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@993Redveg]

I am one of those workers still working part-time at 76. I may never fully retire. I loathe and despise Kier Starmer and this so-called 'Labour' government.

[@jeanhudson988]

Why do people keep saying pensioners are well off The minority of pensioners might be well off

[@paulbird3235]

Exactly, this government is an embarrassment to all the hard working trade union members of the past!. 'WHO DO THEY REALLY REPRESENT'. The 200+ billionaires in our society?. FFS they are proving to be a joke.

[@ChelleKT1]

We all call for Starmer to resign.

[@robinmcara793]

She is spot on about the choices made by Labour. It speaks to a broken, out dated system. This country has gone to the dogs 🐕 😂

[@harrietkinloch7451]

Of course he was going to hit the worst off, he has to hang onto the rich, they're potential donors! Those suits are not going to last forever, 75 year old pensioner here!

[@T5Zplayer]

1945? "Labour wrapped its arms around the people....." She ignores 10 years of food rationing then.

[@martinherts1967]

Yes but the country really was bankrupt , and yet that government built the largest number of council houses ever, and introduced the NHS.

[@T5Zplayer]

@@martinherts1967 Yes, but, by borrowing. At least be factual.

[@LewisLeeLandscapes]

2020 Conservatives wrapped its arms around us with furlough and huge private sector support and look where it got them?

[@Colin623]

@@T5Zplayer And having to pay 40% income tax for the privilege !

[@adriftinaboat3452]

The Welfare State lifted millions out of poverty -numpty

[@GeorgeKent-e2j]

What's the difference between a pensioners house and REEVES house ? SHE GETS THE HEATING ALLOWANCE THEY DON'T

[@brigittereddin1096]

And hers is between 3000 & 4000. Who spend that much on winter fuel????

[@sadiemallyon829]

Words of wisdom Listen to the people!

[@paulkehoe67]

id luv to hear him say the words,, "i resign"!!!

[@matchfactoryman]

Why weren’t the wealthy taxed has no answer. It’s insanity to tax the poorest in the country and as their first action a PR disaster.

[@janwynne-woodhouse5144]

Wait for the budget, I'm hoping that the richest will be paying more. They can't announce everything all at once.

[@matchfactoryman]

@@janwynne-woodhouse5144 Even if that happens how does it undo the tax on pensioners

[@janwynne-woodhouse5144]

@@matchfactoryman it doesn't

[@philmccrackin9114]

What about working age people on benefits we need money for heating

[@mrhbarker]

There is no black hole...

[@melgrant7404]

Only Rachel's mouth that she spouts rubbish out of.

[@DavidGetling]

There are rumours that in the budget TTK is going to double down on his oppression of pensioners by removing the already less than fair or generous 25% council tax discount and also Freedom Passes.

[@nigelbaldwin1038]

This is a chance for the Unions to care for the OAP. Unlike the party they all voted for.

[@andyjohnson2027]

Unions need to strip the Labour Party of funds.

[@neilw.3012]

I cancelled my pension contributions. This country not exist in the 2040s so why bother?

[@ravens-crypt]

Why wasn’t the choice to get rid of the heating allowance for mps it not like they not good for it . Oh right it would affect themselves poor selfish things in my opinion

[@shazAnddollysausage]

If the world wasnt arriving daily we wouldnt be in this predicament in the first place🙄

[@cgj3888]

Kick Starmer out of the Labour Party

[@dalebenton3354]

and have TORIES back in again,Lets see if they any better,See the difference in both parties

[@Colin623]

@@dalebenton3354 They are both corrupt, it took the Tories years to get so unpopular as they did, Labour have done it in two months !

[@993Redveg]

Labour has lost the best leader it ever had, barring Clement Attlee. Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister would NEVER have attacked pensioners in the gutless way Starmer has done.

[@charlietreston4035]

Let's see Unite protest against fuel cuts

[@davidrackaldavid6714]

Stop foreign aid.

[@MegMerrilees]

We still had rationing under labour until 1954 , lifted by Churchill

[@Silver-st2zq]

Starmer and Labour can jog on, never getting my vote again.

[@dalebenton3354]

Go jump back to 14 years of Tories and see the difference then

[@christopher554]

Perhaps the union should call a general strike strike .

[@wiseget]

Beware of scammers pretending to care. Spongebob Starmer is the leader of them!

[@thomasmyers4089]

No, it's not sponge bob, it's the 3 Stooges.

[@raygrimes9203]

Who ever are advising Starmer need to be looked at also, how was the reaction to this not anticipated. Shows completely being out of touch.

[@paulyoung4422]

Keir and Victoria Sponge want everyone to know, they will not be going cold this Winter.

[@patlaing4489]

She needs to get labour to stop the pay per mile driven. Fine until everone stops buying cars - no car manufacturers. Also stop using their cars - no travel for social reasons causes hospitality to be reduced - hence fewer jobs there too.

[@RAMSEYM2402]

Keir Starmer is a W⚓️

[@MichaelHill-o4t]

BIG ONE

[@melgrant7404]

Karma for starmer.

[@philiplong7390]

I totally agree with her. At least she is speaking up.

[@josephobi.837]

I agreed with her until she said we’re better under Labour. No different from the Tories.

[@kevinmullins5556]

So stop heating all the migrant hotels to offset the reservation of the WFB cut!

[@chriswatkinson93]

Your union paymasters have spoken free gear Keir

[@RhonaDavis-lz3qp]

It is a question of priorities Labour doesn't have the right priorities

[@patriciamilnes4793]

Gawd, this woman should be running the country!!

[@oldsquashmonkey]

I find it strange that the 'tickets to an event' which were donated were included in a competition for the 'shop stewards'! Why not a competition for all paying members? 🤔

[@commanderdon4300]

The winter fuel allowance was just a way for the conservatives to funnel our tax money(which is what the allowance is) to the energy companies. A real fix would be to get the energy regulator to actually regulate and not go to the energy companies and ask them what they'd like to charge. Labour just need to do that and it will be a huge win for them and us.

[@colinhowarth3070]

Stop funding labour until he does

[@somethingintheair5373]

No evidence that people are paying for favours?? Has she totally forgotten that Lord Ali got a pass to Downing Street? And because we don’t know about other favours, doesn’t mean they’re not happening!

[@patienceemm]

This man said most of us pesioners are quite Wealthy Where the Hell did get that 😡😡

[@AndrewCoombes-nv2qo]

Ps I am a pensioner

[@993Redveg]

Bullshit and bollocks!!!

[@AndrewCoombes-nv2qo]

@@993Redveg would love to know where he got that from bet he doesn't do his own shopping so won't know what the price of food really is

[@ClimateRealism]

What a stupid idea on wealth tax. Watch tax receipts drop. Where are the promised growth policies? Non-existent.

[@malsurvives]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves earns around £160,000 a year as a Government Minister. I survive on a state pension of £12,000 a year ... and she says SHE had to make difficult decisions. Well, now I have difficult decisions to make: FEED and FREEZE or keep the heating on and STARVE this WINTER! I SHALL NEVER VOTE FOR LABOUR AGAIN!

[@freedomforthebrave]

I make a promise never to vote again in my life

[@Silver-st2zq]

Labour sure is not getting my vote again.

[@cliveillingworth8735]

I have just been listening to this union boss and she has just wiped the floor with the current government, and what she has briefly been speaking about made so much sense, I actually agree with her, what a great response.

[@ericgillespie7799]

She would be a worthy Labour party leader.

[@Lesattridge]

It’s good to see the unite union leader defend us pensioners from a corrupt leader who lies pity the other union leaders do the same for us they know Starmer is not a leader for the people A M E N.

[@desmondhull5778]

At least the unions are standing by the working class not like the Labour austerity party.

[@catalinacurio]

Starmer lost my vote and I’ve been a Labour supporter my entire voting life, never again.

[@harrylyons2001]

I work in a industry that uses a lot of gas .Net zero will turn Starmer in to the next Thatcher

[@ianquarterman9760]

perhaps if the Union members who don't agree with this policy stop paying their union subs, the Unions will follow suit and stop funding the Labour party. Money talks, it's that simple.

[@davidmchugh5017]

Just how much of that money was lost as it was handed over the bar for ale and other unnecessary junk, I’m a 71 yr old pensioner.

[@lindasapiecha2515]

Where is All the money going to come from

[@songscoops4205]

Austerity is happening 😂

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Not for me, I planned.

[@michaelshaw908]

Harold Wilson taxed the rich, it was a great time to be alive in the UK, we need to ask why Starmer and Reeves won't do it ?.

[@TheRealSimpsons1]

Easy solution, stop paying union dues. Spend it on heating.

[@mauricehawkins1278]

I need a new suit....any donations available ?

[@johnbellamy6449]

Sharon of the Unite Union talks sense . I was a member of theTransport and General Workers Union for 35 years paying subs . Iam now 75 so for that idiot to ask why pensioners matter ,its because everyone gets old . i did my bit and now are told i will have no cold weather money . we are not wealthy .