Unite Union Urges Starmer to Reverse 'Cruel' Fuel Payment Cuts

Sharon Graham, head of Unite union, will urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reverse his government’s decision to limit fuel payments to seniors. The move, intended to mitigate a £22 billion public finance deficit, has sparked controversy. Critics argue that it disproportionately affects the poorest, while the wealthiest remain unaffected.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, will call on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to overturn the Labour government's decision to limit fuel payments to the elderly. Labeling the policy as 'cruel' to society's poorest, Graham stressed the importance of reversing the move.

Starmer defended the measure, citing a £22-billion public finance shortfall inherited from the previous Conservative government. This contentious issue risks dampening the celebratory mood of Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, a city pivotal to the party's recent resurgence.

Graham's plea underscores a broader discontent, warning against plunging the country into deeper austerity. The government estimates the policy would save around £1.3 billion next year, but critics, including Graham, argue it undermines public confidence and unjustly targets vulnerable populations.

(With inputs from agencies.)