On Friday 13th September, Graham organised a well-attended protest against the Government’s plan to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment for everyone not on Pension Credit.
Friday saw the campaigning MP gather approximately 70 people in Beverley’s Toll Gavel to make their voices heard about the plans to strip around 21,000 pensioners of their £300 Winter Fuel Payments.
Graham has been active in the fight against this cut, which Labour’s own analysis in 2017 said could result in the deaths of 4,000 pensioners.
The senior MP has spoken about the disappointment people have expressed that the new Labour government is making one of its first acts in power being to strip many pensioners of their Winter Fuel Payment.
The petition Graham set up in late July has already attracted over 1,000 signatures, leading him to start a new wider-ranging campaign, called Protect Our Pensioners, which seeks to be a voice for pensioners in Beverley and Holderness.
Graham Stuart said: “My delight that so many people came to my protest against the removal of the Winter Fuel Payments is only tempered by my disappointment that we have to do this.
“That’s why over 1,000 people in Beverley and Holderness signed my petition against this cut.
“Over 15,000 local people certainly didn’t vote Labour to strip over 20,000 pensioners of their winter fuel payments – leaving thousands stripped of this vital and much-needed payment just as fuel prices are rising and winter is approaching.
“It’s simply wrong that this government has decided to make one of its first acts be to strip pensioners of their Winter Fuel Payments – a policy which Labour themselves said could result in the deaths of 4,000 pensioners.
“It’s just not worth it – this is a policy that costs £1.4 billion on a government spend of £1,200 billion. I think anyone on £1,200 a month would be happy to give £1.40 to keep a pensioner warm over winter."
