Labour members led by the Unite Union at the party’s conference won a symbolic vote on the last day over the winter fuel cut.
Speaking to the Conference Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said
The nation wants food, work and homes… It wants a high and rising standard of living, security for all, against a rainy day…”
“Friends, that’s a quote from the 1945 Labour Manifesto, written in the shadow of death, destruction and debt, caused by years of war.
“A manifesto of hope.
“Written at a time when our debt to GDP was 270 per cent. Nearly three times higher than it is now.
“Yet, no mention of cuts, no mention of austerity and certainly no mention of making everyday people pay.
She added
“Friends, people simply do not understand, I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.
“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.
“Friends, we are the sixth richest economy in the world. We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won’t get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.
“These fiscal rules are self-imposed and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks.
