Anne Grant, Fareham:

Labour MP Richard Quigley stated his mission to demystify Westminster.

Can he demystify Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spiteful cancellation of winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners, except for those on Pension Credit.

Ms Reeves' revenge on the ‘grey vote’ brought back memories of the New Labour government. She has revived Tony Blair’s policy of helping pensioners apply for Pension Credit. Good luck with that.

Gordon Brown’s means tested rules included a fictitious interest rate on pensioners' investments.

I helped my parent to apply for Pension Credit, a means tested payment. The Dept of Work & Pensions (DWP) wanted copies of bank statements, duly sent with the completed application form.

A DWP advisor followed up with a home visit. It lasted 30 minutes, including a friendly chat and cup of tea, as she reviewed the documents.

At the time, the best annual savings account interest rate from banks and building societies was around a lowly 1.25 per cent. The DWP advisor concluded her visit by rejecting the application because my parent’s savings slightly exceeded the qualifying threshold.

Also, DWP assumed an annual interest rate on savings of 5 per cent!

Dismayed, I asked the advisor if Gordon Brown could tell me where to find a 5 per cent savings rate. She was sympathetic, acknowledged Labour’s skulduggery and said, ‘sorry, those are the rules.’

I asked why she didn’t reject the application by phone or letter to save her wasted visit and our wasted time.

“I need your signature as proof of my visit and travel time.”

A civil service job creating farce!

Means testing is costly to apply in public servant salaries.

To sign the petition go to www.change.org/p/save-the-winter-fuel-payment
 

Now Starmer’s Labour has announced 90,000 civil servant jobs, planned to be axed by the Tories, will be retained.

Will Ms Reeves' Pension Credit advisors’ salaries be funded by axed pensioners' winter fuel payments?

Will she mimic Gordon Brown’s fairyland interest rates?

When she scrapped the benefit the Bank of England rate was 5.25 per cent.

It has dropped to 5 per cent and predicted to fall further.

If you don’t want your granny to freeze this winter, complain to Mr Quigley, and sign this online protest petition (link above).