The Tory threat to living standards – Labour demands Tories drop plans to remove Winter Fuel Allowances from pensioners

Labour
has today demanded that the Tories immediately abandon plans to remove the
Winter Fuel Allowances from pensioners.

Speaking
at a press conference this morning, John McDonnell, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor,
said: “This is a savage attack on vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who
are just about managing. We will not stand by and allow so many of them to be
back in a situation where they have to choose whether they heat or eat.”

This
comes as Labour today warns that the Tory manifesto represents a threat to
living standards and increased insecurity for pensioners and working people. 

Commenting
on the “extraordinary” lack of any mention of living standards in the Tories’
manifesto, McDonnell said: “Living standards are falling under the Tories, yet
Theresa May couldn’t promise that she would seek to address this. There is a
clear and unambiguous threat to living standards; an attack on pensioners and
on working people.”

Rebecca
Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, outlined the threat the Tories
pose to pensioners, including:

·        
The
Tories’ new ‘Double Lock’, which would have left pensioners at least £330 worse
off had it been in place in recent years.

·        
How
five in every six pensioners are set to lose Winter Fuel payments, worth up to
£300.

·        
That
34 million people face the prospect of working longer if Theresa May raises the
State Pension age.

And
it is a similar tale for working people:

·        
Since
2010, the average household is paying more in both direct and indirect
taxation: nearly £2,000, with the threat of further tax rises

·        
Under
the Tories the UK is set to experience the worst decade for real household
disposable incomes since 1949.

Alongside
the press conference, Labour has published a new document titled: ‘The Tory
Threat To Living Standards’. This analysis reveals the scope of the Tory attack
on living standards, setting out how working people and pensioners will pay the
price of the Tories’ betrayal.

***CHECK
AGAINST DELIVERY***

John
McDonnell, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, speaking at a press conference
outlining the Tory threat to working people, said:

On
the Tory manifesto:

“This
was a manifesto that offers working people and pensioners’ insecurity with a
huge question mark over their living standards.

“Gone
was the commitment to raise working people’s living standards. Gone was the
commitment not to raise taxes on working people. And gone was the commitment to
protect pensioners’ incomes through the triple lock. 

“This
signals a clear threat to working people and to pensioners. So that’s the
choice at this election; a threat to working people’s and pensioners’ living
standards if the Tories are re-elected on the 8th of June, or a Labour plan to
support working people.  A Labour plan that will introduce a Real Living
Wage of £10 an hour by 2020.  A Labour plan that will commit to no income
tax, VAT or NICs rises for 95 per cent of tax payers. And a Labour plan that
will invest in our vital public services.

“That’s
the choice at this election. A clear threat to working people’s living
standards or a Labour Party that will stand up for the many, and not the few.

On
wages:

“We
are currently witnessing the worst decade for pay in 200 years.

“Real
wages are still lower today than they were when the Tories came to power in
2010.

“According
to the OECD, the UK is the only advanced major economy where growth has
returned since the crash but wages have fallen. 

“And
it is unlikely to stop there. Experts have warned that with the cost of living
increasing, household incomes are set to be squeezed even further.”

On
taxation:

“Under
the Tories working families are paying more in tax and there are further tax
rises in the pipeline.

“Since 2010, the average household is paying more
in both direct and indirect taxation- a total of nearly £2,000.

“Labour is promising no increase in taxation on
low and middle income earners. The Tories in contrast have form on tax rises.

“They have increased taxes on working people
before and they will do it again.”

Rebecca
Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, said:

On
pensioners:

“The
Tories have launched an all-out attack on pensioner incomes, by abandoning the
Triple Lock, cutting Winter Fuel Payments, raising the State Pension age, and
breaking promises on social care and GP access.

“They’ve laid bare the threat they pose
to pensioners’ security and living standards. They have shown beyond doubt
they’re turning their backs on older people and to future generations of
pensioners.

“Theresa May’s message to millions of
workers is now this: work for years longer only to receive far less generous
support in old age.

Notes to editors: