PRESS RELEASE - 10TH JANUARY 2010

TRUSS IS LEFT IN THE COLD ON HEATING VIEWS

SOUTH WEST NORFOLK, 10 January 2010: A parliamentary candidate in Norfolk has been criticised for supporting an idea that would see pensioners in South West Norfolk left in the cold.

Peter Smith, Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for South West Norfolk, attacked a report from right-wing think tank Reform entitled ‘The end of entitlement'. The 36-page report included recommendations such as removing Winter Fuel Allowances and free TV licences for people aged over 75. The report labelled these payments to older persons as being "unnecessary" and explained that it was "necessary to claw back benefits to reduce welfare costs and support a low-tax economy."

Elizabeth Truss is a Deputy Director of Reform and has supported the recommendations of the report, recommendations which echo Conservative calls for an 'era of austerity' for the country, including Britain's older people. The report was ‘slammed' by Age Concern and Help the Aged stating that the Winter Fuel Allowance had lifted some 200,000 people out of fuel poverty last winter. Andrew Harrop, Head of Policy for the charity, said: "The winter fuel payments are hardly ‘perks' and to suggest so is irresponsible in the extreme."

Peter Smith said:

"With the country experiencing ever colder weather, these additional payments are even more vital. I spoke with various people who receive these payments and all have told me how much these payments help them when they need it most. For Norfolk's older people a Conservative government will mean an abdication of responsibility for social welfare and a simple ‘we don't care' attitude."

"It will be a straightforward choice as to whether we want a government committed to providing our older people with the essential support needed to live a dignified life when they have retired or a government that isn't. There is nothing compassionate about cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance which is why I am proud that this Labour Government has promised to maintain it."

RELEASE ENDS

Notes to Editor

Elizabeth Truss is still listed as Deputy Director for the think-tank ‘Reform'

The report "The end of entitlement" can be found here:

http://www.reform.co.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ECSzk1Mtle8%3d&tabid=118

Andrew Harrop's comments can be found here:
http://www.reform.co.uk/Research/ResearchArticles/tabid/82/smid/444/ArticleID/1027/reftab/82/t/Fury%20over%20calls%20to%20scrap%20winter%20fuel%20allowance/Default.aspx