The NPC Northern Region is proud to celebrate a hard-fought and significant victory in the campaign to restore the Winter Fuel Allowance (WFA) to millions of pensioners across England and Wales. On 9 June 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that pensioners with an annual income under £35,000 will once again receive the WFA this winter.
This is a clear U-turn from the Labour Government’s damaging 2024 decision to remove the payment—an unjust policy that hit the poorest and oldest members of our communities the hardest.
But while this is an important first step, the fight is far from over.
A Victory Won by Collective Action – and the North Was at the Front
This change in government policy did not happen by chance. It came as a direct result of relentless pressure from the National Pensioners Convention, including the NPC Northern Region, along with allies in Unite the Union and community campaigns.
We marched, we leafleted, we lobbied MPs, and many in our movement made a strong political statement by withholding support for Labour in the 2025 local elections. It worked. We made ourselves impossible to ignore.
As NPC Northern Region Secretary Alec McFadden put it:
“This is a big win—but make no mistake, it’s a win that we forced. The Government didn’t offer this out of kindness. They did it because we kept pushing. And we’ll keep pushing, because £35,000 a year might be enough in the South East—but in the North East, where it’s colder and energy bills bite harder, we need more.”
Our Region Feels the Coldest and Pays the Price
According to BBC Weather, the North East of England and Scotland consistently face the coldest winter temperatures in the UK. Combined with rising energy costs, poor insulation in older housing stock, and high levels of fuel poverty, our pensioners are among those most at risk.
The WFA helps—but the £200 or £300 annual payment is simply not enough to offset the real cost of heating a home through a harsh Northern winter.
And yet, we still live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, where millions of older people are forced to choose between heating and eating.
Pensions in the UK: Among the Lowest in Europe
The UK continues to have one of the lowest state pensions in Western Europe. According to OECD data and research from Age UK and Independent Age, the UK state pension replaces just 28% of the average wage—well below the EU average of 58%.
While other European countries treat retirement with dignity and security, too many British pensioners live just above or even below the poverty line, especially in the North and post-industrial communities.
The WFA U-turn is welcome, but it does not address the deeper inequality faced by older people in this country.
What We Still Demand
The NPC Northern Region is not stopping here. While we acknowledge the victory, we know it’s only part of a much bigger fight. We continue to demand:
1. Backdated Winter Fuel Payments
The allowance must be backdated to 1 January 2025. Pensioners endured one of the coldest winters in recent years without support. Some went into debt, others skipped meals. They deserve compensation.
2. Regional Weighting for Cold Areas
One-size-fits-all policies do not work in a country with such stark regional inequalities. The North East and Scotland need higher winter support due to consistently colder climates and higher fuel poverty.
3. Protection from Future Cuts
Pensioners must not be subject to sudden political decisions that threaten their well-being. We demand proper consultation, representation, and ultimately the appointment of a Commissioner for Older People in England, as already exists in Wales and Northern Ireland.
4. Fairer, European-Level State Pensions
The UK must finally face up to the fact that its pension system is not fit for purpose. We want a state pension that lifts people out of poverty and gives them real choices—not just survival.
This Is a People’s Victory – Let’s Build On It
This success belongs to every pensioner, campaigner, trade unionist, and supporter who refused to stay silent. It proves that organised resistance works. But we are under no illusions—this Government, and any future Government, must be held to account every step of the way.
We will continue to campaign:
- In Parliament
- In the streets
- In council chambers
- Online and on the ground
And we will do so in solidarity with working people, the disabled, carers, and all those who are being left behind.
Join the Campaign
We invite all members, allies, and concerned citizens to join us in the next stage of the campaign. Whether it’s supporting our call for backdated WFA payments, helping to push for a UK Commissioner for Older People, or demanding a better deal for pensioners nationally, your voice matters.
Visit our website to find out more:
👉 www.northernregionnpc.co.uk
Together, we’ve achieved this step forward. Now, let’s push for the dignity, security, and respect every pensioner in the UK deserves.
Solidarity always,
NPC Northern Region