“Who’s Lorraine?” The Prime Minister might not know the name of one of the country’s favourite TV presenters but he’s certainly learnt a new name today.
That of Elsie, a 77-year-old pensioner, whose energy bills have soared five-fold.
Boris Johnson was told this morning that Elsie has resorted to eating just one meal a day and travels on the bus so she can avoid using energy at home.
Like so many other pensioners, Elsie isn’t eligible for the Government’s poorly-targeted rebate scheme and is struggling to make ends meet because of the Tory cost of living crisis.
Her situation and that of 12 million other pensioners has been made even harder by the Tories breaking their manifesto commitment to keep the triple lock on state pensions.
As Labour’s pensions chief, I’m deeply worried. Older people pay twice as much for their energy and many on fixed incomes don’t have savings to fall back on.
Boris Johnson is now overseeing the biggest real-terms cut to the state pension in fifty years. Not since 1975 has the value of the state pension been cut so dramatically, relative to inflation.
In recent months I’ve met retirees the length and breadth of Britain. People who served our country, contributed so much to building our communities and who paid in all their lives.
The Tories are treating them with contempt. No wonder the leading charity for pensioners is watching this will be a ‘year of hell’ for older people.
As Johnson was told about Elsie’s situation, he also refused to introduce a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. It's disgraceful given BP make in seconds what pensioners like Elsie needs to heat their homes.
The Tories may refuse to act but Labour would take immediate action. Our plan for an Emergency Budget would scrap the tax hike, make homes cheaper to heat and, crucially, cut energy bills by up to £600.
While the Tory message to pensioners is soaring energy bills and a lower state pension, Labour’s is a simple one.
We’ll support you through this cost of living crisis. We’re on your side.
