The protest outside Islington Town Hall yesterday (Thursday)

PENSIONERS said that they would be forced to choose between “heating and eating” as they gathered in front of Islington Town Hall yesterday (Thursday) to demonstrate against the government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.

The group – members of the Islington Pensioners Forum – are preparing to lobby the government next month at a meeting organised by the National Pensioners Convention.

They held up a banner which contrasted the Labour government’s decision with the profits made by the giant gas providers whose executives and shareholders are unlikely to be worrying about rising bills as the weather gets colder.

The policy to reserve the Winter Fuel Payment for only the very poorest was announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves at the beginning of August amid a series of saving measures she claimed were in response to the £22billion “black hole” left by the Conservative government.

There was widespread backlash to the policy, with 52 Labour MPs abstaining from the vote on the policy in the Commons last week.

There was no rebellion from Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry who voted to keep the measures laid out by Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves.

Jeremy Corbyn, the now-independent MP for Islington North, did the opposite and said the idea should be scrapped. He told the Tribune that he wanted to keep the winter fuel allowance because he believes in the “principle of universalism”.

The MP added: “A universal system of welfare reduces the stigma attached to those who rely on it, and removes barriers for those who find it difficult to apply. What next for means testing? The state pension? The NHS?”

Yesterday [Thursday] members of the Islington Pensioners Forum held out the banner that they will take with them to parliament in two weeks’ time. It was branded with the message: “Millions For Gas Giants. Means-Test For Pensioners.”

Bronwen Handyside, 74, said that pensioners were “very angry” about the cut, and the situation that it would leave them in as they approach winter.

“It’s going to make a big difference in terms of budgeting,” she said. “For lots of people, it’s going to be that eternal choice between heating and eating. I just don’t see why the government doesn’t tax the extremely wealthy instead of pensioners.”

Mr Corbyn echoed Ms Handyside’s concern that the government are placing the financial burden of solving the deficit on the shoulders of the most vulnerable.

“If the government really cares about wealth disparities in our society, they would raise taxes on the wealthiest in our society. That way, we ensure everyone has the support they need and that those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share,” he said. “There is plenty of money, it’s just in the wrong hands — and we will not be fooled by ministers’ attempts to feign regret over cruel decisions they know they don’t have to take.”

Francis Bradley, assistant secretary of the Islington Pensioners Forum, said the government would take help away from those who needed it the most.

“It affects so many people,” she said. “It has a massive impact on health. People die in cold homes. It’s shocking that a Labour government would do this.”

Analysis from Age UK revealed last week that 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes are set to lose out on their winter fuel payment, and will struggle without it.

Dot Gibson, 89, who lives in Islington, added that the decision to means-test the allowance was “upsetting”. “People thought a Labour government would do things differently,” she said. “It’s very, very thoughtless.”

In a statement released last week, Jan Shortt, the general secretary of the NPC, urged members to invite their MPs to attend the lobby of Parliament on October 7. She said the convention was “deeply worried by the impact this decision is set to have upon millions of older people who are already stuggling to make ends meet”.

She added: “Make no mistake, lives will be lost as our oldest and most vulnerable turn off their heating and miss making hot meals to save the money they are losing. In the 21st century to treat elderly people in this manner is unforgivable and will not be forgotten.”