Party leaders unite behind union demand for the reinstatement of the winter fuel payment as a universal benefit

Retired members of Unite in Northern Ireland have scored a clean sweep of political leaders in support of their winter fuel payment campaign.

The leaders of all Northern Ireland parties: Democratic Unionist Party; the Alliance party; the Ulster Unionist party; the Social Democratic and Labour Party; the Traditional Unionist Voice and People Before Profit, have signed a pledge opposing the cutting of the winter fuel payment.

The party leaders signed the pledge which said: “This is something which we cannot in good conscience support”. By signing the party leaders jointly called on the UK government to reverse its plans to means test the winter fuel payment and for it to reinstate it as a universal benefit in the upcoming budget.

Sharon Graham general secretary of Unite said: “This is a very significant milestone in our campaign to defend the winter fuel payment. Unite is now seeking the same cross-party support in both Wales and Scotland. The UK government needs to recognise that they are standing alone in justifying this disgraceful attack on pensioners.” 

Susan Fitzgerald Unite regional secretary in Northern Ireland. Said: “This policy has absolutely no support in Northern Ireland. All political parties here have now publicly stated their opposition to this despicable attack on low-income pensioners

“Every year in Northern Ireland excess winter deaths are estimated at around 1,000 people. A horrifying statistic with real victims behind these number . Fuel poverty is a major contributor to those deaths and low income older people are at greatest risk. Winter fuel payments are literally the difference between life and death to them. It must be reversed immediately.”

The campaign to reinstate the winter fuel payment is being spearheaded by retired workers in Unite with the support of the union’s ‘Unite for a Workers’ Economy’ initiative.