Pensioners Against Freezing

WHO WE ARE

My name is Peter Fanning. My wife is Florence Fanning. We are both from Coatbridge born and bred and have been married for 52 years. We have 3 grown up children and 9 grandchildren.

Recently in conversation with our friend Robert Slavin we discussed the decision of the Westminster Government, accepted by the Scottish Government, to end the winter heating allowance for millions of pensioners. Robert raised the fact Former First Minister, Alex Salmond, has argued publicly that this decision could and should be challenged in the courts.

Florence and I feel strongly about the issue. We are of modest means and will greatly miss the allowance. We are also aware that many others are worse off than ourselves. We are angry that pensioners should be the first recourse of cutbacks and outraged that the health of many people will be jeopardised by the unexpected withdrawal of this money and the further 10 per cent rise in energy bills this winter. Flo and I were instrumental in setting up our local credit union and Food Co- op. We are very well aware of how tough things are for the many households who have to count every single penny. The fact that these decisions are being made by politicians who will never have to worry about turning on their own heating makes matters even worse.

Mr Salmond put us in touch with Mike Dailly of the Govan Law Centre who agreed to take on our case. We intend to sue both the London and Scottish Governments since both are guilty through action and inaction of damaging the welfare of pensioners. We are grateful for Mr Salmond’s help and will be writing to every MSP across the parties and every former First Minister to ask for their support for our initiative.

We are hoping to be successful given the manifest injustice involved. However, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome.

This is one such battle.

Peter Fanning