Members of the Merseyside Pensioners Association at the protest(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)

11 pictures of Merseyside pensioners 'fighting back' against winter fuel cuts

by · Liverpool Echo

Dozens of pensioners protested cuts to the winter fuel allowance today outside the Labour Party Conference

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Merseyside pensioners braved torrential rain outside the Labour Party conference this afternoon to voice their anger over the government's cuts to the winter fuel allowance. While Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves made her big conference speech, dozens of pensioners waved placards and chanted "winter fuel cut go away, tax the rich and make them pay". One placard read: "Scouse pensioners have warm hearts. Starmer's heart is cold as ice. Labour not welcome in Liverpool."

In July, the chancellor announced plans to scrap winter fuel payments for around 10 million pensioners. The hugely controversial move means that all pensioners aside from those in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get winter fuel payments worth between £100 and £300.

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Many people at the protest said they had "always voted Labour" but won't be doing so again because of the winter fuel allowance policy. Susan Robinson, 66, from Kensington Fields Community Association, is one such disgruntled Labour voter. She told the ECHO: " I voted Labour because I thought they would show us compassion, but I don't think they're showing us any compassion whatsoever. "We're representing our pensioners' group today. They're very unhappy about it. At the moment, I think if we could all vote again, I don't think Keir Starmer would be getting any votes from us. There's so much anger.

"I dread to think of the impact on people. As if things aren't hard enough for people at the moment. I think it's making it ten times harder for them. We have to support one another on this. I'm not doing this for myself, I'm doing it for the 50, 60 pensioners that I personally know. I couldn't expect them to come out in the teeming rain to show their support. But believe me, we will be. Below are 11 pictures, from today's protest.

  1. A protestor makes his feelings known about cuts to the winter fuel allowance
    1 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  2. WASPI women also joined the protest against cuts to the winter fuel allowance outside the Labour Party Conference
    2 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  3. Members of the Merseyside Pensioners Association at the protest
    3 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  4. A man holds a sign saying: 'Freebie Starmer, shiny new suits, designer dresses. I followed the rules and expected dignity in retirement'
    4 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  5. Pensioner Audrey White speaking at the protest
    5 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  1. A WASPI woman at the protest against cuts to the winter fuel allowance
    6 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  2. Members of the Merseyside Pensioners Association at the protest
    7 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  3. A man holds a placard saying 'Merseyside pensioners fight back'
    8 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  1. Protesting pensioners outside the Labour Party Conference
    9 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  2. A pensioner braves the wet weather to take a stand against the cuts
    10 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
  3. Members of the Merseyside Pensioners Association at the protest
    11 of 11(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)