Pensioners Left to Freeze as Energy Bills DOUBLE 

Just remember Boris loves you and thinks about you. When he wants your vote.

Why would she expect Boris, or any conservative MP, to do anything about this? They simply do not care.

Imagine working for your whole adult life and you end up cold in your home.

This is what should be on the news everyday.

Heard people say: "Politics wont put food on the table." And everytime I hear it I think: "Yeah, but it can take it away from the table, and the table."

We need to stop voting for people who don't know what living like this is like. We need someone in charge who's experienced hardships and difficult times. Voting someone in every 5 years who doesn't know what the cost of living is for everyday people will never change anything.

Pensioners grappling with the difficulty of meeting essential expenses often encounter this situation due to inadequate savings during their working years. The decisions taken in readiness for retirement carry extensive consequences, as demonstrated within my own family dynamics. Differing investment approaches yielded disparate results. Guided by a financial advisor.

I often sit wrapped in blankets worrying about how to afford these bills...I really empathise with this lady....I'm determined to stay in budget

"Why isn't Boris doing anything about it?" He doesn't care what happens to what he regards as peasants. He would happily set fire to YOU to keep his hands warm.

Why isn't Boris doing something about it? This is a man who said "let the bodies pile high". Luv. He would add you to the pile without noticing.

71 years old and she has to live like this, my fucking heart breaks for anyone in this situation. We have to do something. This government needs burning to the ground! Absolutely harrowing!

Why isn't Boris doing something about it? Its really sad to see people like this and they have no idea how self serving and callous the Conservatives are, the current squeeze is meant to bury the poor while protecting business at any cost

_"Why doesn't Boris do something about it?"_ Well, he's not freezing, is he? I've never heard anyone credible say that Boris have cared or considered anyone other than himself, so unless he's personally affected, what motivation does he have to do anything? He's an MP, so he gets the extra £2000(?) heating benefit, so he won't freeze anytime soon. I wonder, though. The way she asks it, the familiar "Boris", suggests that she may even have voted for him. If not her, then clearly a large number of people in situations similar to hers still did. Somehow taken in by his very obvious lies - I mean, the man had even lost his job - twice - for lying, when he stood in the 2019 election, and wasn't exactly known to live up to his promises in his other roles, including as Mayor of London. So it's a wonder that anyone would believe him this time, even just based on his track record, but when his election promises are either rehashes of what Tories promise, and fail to deliver, every election, or things that hinge on the kind of things no Tory government ever has, and never would, vote through Parliament, you gotta wonder about people. Do they _want_ to be disappointed and made fools of? What's really more astonishing than Boris doing nothing about it, is that nobody else seems to care all that much. Take just about any other country in the EU, if the population were hit with even a quarter of the BS of what this Tory government have hit the UK with in the time since the last election, they'd be out in the streets making serious noise about the situation. Does anyone even doubt that in France, shit would be on fire and guillotines be taken out of museums and their blades sharpened? Hence, they only got a 4% increase in energy prices, and the difference made up from windfall taxes on utility companies making bank. Even then, they also get checks to help pay their utility bills. In the UK, not making noise means you'll get a mandatory loan to help pay your bills that have increased by 54%. And people like Diane freezing, some to death, in their homes. But at least you didn't have to leave your house and miss Strictly or whatever else is on the telly, so I guess it evens out.

In my flat it's very chilly, I never use the heating at all, I warm my hands on the toaster, I switch it on for a minute to take the chill off. EDF is my gas supplier, all I use is a gas cooker, that alone is £10-12 a month, so if I added central heating or heating the water with the gas boiler to that, it'll cost a fortune - and it's still set to go up even further! Why *isn't* Johnson doing anything about it? Because he doesn't care, he's more concerned about himself and his job to bother with the British people.

Wow, as a vietnamese, I have always looked at the UK as a country of prosperity. I guess I have to change my mind. I can’t believe the Brits would let these things happen. Choosing between eating or heating? That’s not right and should be corrected. No one should be choosing between heating or eating.

And there is the CEO of BP stating they have more cash than they know what to do with. I could help him if he doesn’t know…. Something isn’t right.

Our politicians and capitalist class are too detached from the lives of ordinary citizens and too unaccountable for the decisions they make and this is the result. We need a massive grassroots push for more democracy in our governments and our workplaces

"Why isn't Boris doing something about it?" Well you see luv, Kemal De Pfeffel doesn't give a shit about you, Kemal De Pfeffel only worries about himself and his bank account. What Kemal De Pfeffel illegally accepted for doing his flat up would heat your home sweetheart for about 28 years. Just one roll of his ill-gained wallpaper would heat your home for about two winters.

46.3% of the population voted for Tories last election. An 80 seat majority!. That means that very nearly half of the people you pass in the street don't give a damn about fairness, equality of opportunity, support for the vulnerable or disadvantaged etc. So for me, the question is not "why won't Boris do something about it" buy why won't WE.

I used to live in Tulse Hill about seven years ago. This is heartbreaking to watch. It’s no way to live; in perpetual fear of getting into a crippling debt spiral because you had the heating on.

I live in Iceland....ICELAND.....where it's always cold, good summer weather is 10°c...yet I'm sitting here at home right now in my strappy summer dress, wearing a light cardigan in February. We've had record snowfall over the past week and yet it barely costs me anything to keep the central heating on all day...pennies to fill my bath deep every single day....that's a family of 5 having deep baths every single day, not having to share bath water either and never having to watch our water usage. We don't have to worry about electrical usage either because it doesn't cost us much, in fact my last electric bill was about 25 quid for the month, and we use a lot of electricity since gas stoves etc aren't the norm here. I video call my Mom in Cornwall (UK) where the weather looks decent, yet she's sat there fully dressed with her thick bathrobe on, a woolly hat on her head and she's wearing gloves.....and I can see fkn SMOKE coming out of her mouth due to the cold in her home that she can't afford to warm. She only has a one bedroom apartment, it's not that big but she can't even afford to heat that. We had been thinking of moving back to the UK just as brexit hit....glad we dodged that bullet. Instead I'll be making arrangements for her to move over here with us. After working all her life my Mom should not be having to struggle to eat or heat.

If her daughters know she's living like this, why don't they help her? Its disgusting

I commend Diane for her energy efficiency as I practice this myself but she still should not be choosing between eating and heating, this is ridiculous.

They do nothing about it because they're on the payroll. "Donations" to politicians from these corporations ensure that nothing is ever done to hurt their profits. And the joke is that our political system and laws allow it!

Why isn't Boris doing something about it? I think one must ask themselves if he cares and if he ever cared

its like this near me for older people but its more like no heating at all

While Zahawi is claiming expenses for heating his horse stables you could not make this stuff up.

her daughters need to help her. why are they leaving her to freeze like this is?? so selfish and ridiculous

I made the mistake of putting my heating on a few years ago in winter for 5 or 6 days. When I saw my Monthly bill rocketed to £190.... I KEEP IT SWITCHED OFF NOW! I put on 3 LAYERS of clothing to keep warm. Given, the prices are rocketing up... Wearing many layers of clothing is my ONLY option Unlikely to last next 2 years before I receive my pension but at least the Govt have a plan to stop us from LIVING TO RECEIVEI IT...

"Boris" doesn't give a damn. This lady is not important to him. No longer in the workforce = expendable. Rather than driving by, it might be an idea for her daughters to bring her some hot food or take her to their houses during the day to keep warm. The kids would survive the cold better than she might. If all else fails, go sit in a library all day. At least you can read papers or books for entertainment and it will be warm and free. This all has to stop. We can't go on treating people like this.

Privatisation of the utilities was a great idea. It has helped to reduce prices now so that nobody has any problem affording gas and electricity. Brexit was also a brilliant idea as we have now scrapped VAT from fuel. ...and then I returned from a parallel universe...

When the bills have come And the rooms are dark And the moon, is the only, light I'll see No I won't, be afraid No I won't, be afraid Just as long, as I've got Sovrin Tea So darlin', darlin', Sovrin Tea, oh, Sovrin Tea Oh, praise, Sovrin Tea, Sovrin Tea

One thing i hope you guys can suggest to here is getting a "sleeping"bag. Its done wonders for me when i have it really cold because of medical issues.

This is heart breaking.

There are two factors contributing to the problems we are facing in the UK, one is govt incompetence and the other is that people have stopped caring. The govt has stopped caring, the billionaires don't care, the corporations don't care, even family and friends don't care about what others are going through. I remember there used to be a community spirit of helping each other out when problems arose, even if the govt didn't help. That is no longer present and it's deeply sad.

Boris is not doing anything because he's in the pocket of Shell and BP

"Why isn't Boris doing something against it?" Because he couldn't care less. Why do you still call him Boris?

Just make sure you vote the toxic tories out at the next GE.

Probably be amazed how many people live like this.

Boris doesn't care ...and neither do any of his government!...terribly sad situation we find ourselves in when the most vulnerable of our society have to suffer even more .

Between these two parties pick which one is likely to be more concerned about the cost of home heating. Conservative, Labour. If you picked conservative well, you need to pay more attention to politics.

This is so sad 😢and if you still want to vote for the Tories you don't love our Country or the people in it, This shouldn't be happening in our "Great" Britain, we need real leadership and compassion

There are no words to express how sickening this is. Having to sit in a cold home in this day and age? Where did Look after our own Go . Too busy looking after illegal immigrants making sure their human rights aren’t breached all the while our most vulnerable in society are left to Rot. Fucking disgraceful. Welcome to Britain 2022 people.

The Tory government is propped up by the elderly vote, perhaps these issues will make them consider voting for someone else.

tip a single elec blanket cheap to run but wraped around legs keeps just your area warm

Boris isn't doing something about it because he's one of the system's beneficiaries of that and other situations. And I'm sorry to say Diane but maybe your daughters are people who doesn't care for nobody except themselves just like Boris, what kind of son or daughter wouldn't visit his/her mother taking the kids along to see their grandmother because of the cold, what kind of people is this for Christ sake.

Because while pensioners keep voting for him despite him giving them the shaft, nothing's going to change.

54% rise in energy at least in the UK, whereas in France the rise is 4%. The reason why a windfall tax on the largest provider, that is then use to pay the increase. This is what Labour has proposed, what has the Tories proposed a £200 loan...

Boris will be thinking of you at his next party while admiring his new furnishings.🤣🤣🤣

This is so disgusting. People, and specially not pensioners, should not have to choose between eating and freezing. This woman has proabably worked her entire life and this is how she is treated in her old age. Shame, shame is all I can say.

Heating is a human right. None of us asked to be here and no one has a guaranteed income to cover the cost of living for life. This system is so corrupt.

Problem is it's not only pensioners, I have worked all my life and I am currently sat with a hot water bottle as I write this. It's a complete joke, my energy supplier has just announced a billion in profit.. WTF

“Why isn’t Boris doing something about it ?” (the cost of Heating). I believe it’s because he doesn’t give a shit about poor and struggling people. He might, eventually, be told he has to care about the optics, ie what it looks like politically, but that’s the full extent of any care or interest he has. The bigger question is how come we ended up with a lying & uncaring PM, everyone knew what he was like from day one…. It’s true, he has given his ‘chums’ literally Billions of pounds of Taxpayers hard earned money, so perhaps it’s not such a difficult Q to answer after all…

"Why doesn't Boris do something about it," she obviously voted for him ,so good luck

He isn’t “Boris” and he is doing something about it, just not in your favour.

Insulate Britain campaigned for months in the UK. A property with a proper insulation can lower the energy usage for heating by between 40% and 80%. That would have lowered the energy bills consequently. The UK gouvernement hasn't rolled out any investment to help their citizens and landlords to insulate their properties. Now we are paying the price of this incompetence.

I don't get it. A pensioner gets £177 per week if on PC. Full HB and CT. And yet fails to be able to pay for some gas on a weekly basis to keep warm in the winter.

Growing up my dad always 7sed to say....put on a jumper I'm not putting the heating on yet. That won't do in this day and age!

What an injustice and horrifying blyte on our times Dickensian times are back

“Why isn’t Boris doing anything about it?” Well, he is a Tory and will never bother about ordinary people. They are only a nuisance.

My electricity bill is £160 a month, and it’s going to go up now. It’s shocking

I despise the elitism that's emerged in the government. It never seemed as major under Theresa May but it it seems to have peaked during the recent pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Don't expect rich people to care about poor people. The only time they care is when they want your vote.

0:13... "Why isn't Boris doing something about it?" Well, he did... You're in this mess thanks to him to begin with.

Poor Lass it's a disgrace what the old/disabled folk have to go through with the MASSIVE bills at present

It's utterly shameful that we allow our pensioners to live like this. The Germans and French look after their elders with state pensions more than double what we provide ours.

I want to live in a world where it’s not possible for some bloke to make a toy ‘house’ for a horse, scribble on it, to then see it sell for six times more than my real house cost - which I’m still paying for - to someone who has a spare million kicking around allowing him to do that. Then, maybe, this lady could afford to keep warm.

Starting to feel like collective punishment...

I suppose, the good thing is that this winter has been rather mild. That said, 58% of people aged 70+ voted for the Tories in 2019.

No matter who you vote for make sure you use your vote every time there is any election or referendum

Heating or eating? It's disgraceful

The point is, everyone needs to make sure they can survive financially in retirement. Doesnt matter how you do it, its common sense.

*IM AN AUTHOR* I have lived without any heating all winter in very cold Bulgaria as research for a book on how to stay warm - *THESE ARE MY TOP TIPS* 1) Its WAY cheaper to run a dehumidifier than a heater - you feel cold in the damp WAY more than you do in the dry 2) DONT turn the heating on and off - just leave it off and acclimatise 3) Throw out everything you own made of synthetic fabric and buy WOOL, WOOL and MORE WOOL. Wool socks, wool jumpers, wool scarfs, wool blankets, have a blanket on the sofa, wear a scarf indoors like the aristocracy used to. Wear cotton next to your skin. Vacuum the clothes when you get them to stop allergies. I have been toasty warm in my living room at 13ºC - today I am HOT cos its 15ºC

I live in Germany. My gas bill has gone up by nearly 15 Euro.

I know the Parlament listens to you since they gave themselves a 11% increase this year the members can afford heating. But they might need 11% more to signing a bill that gives this lady a warmer house. What about 20£ a week? The UK has become a third world country after leaving the EU.

In Japan they have what is called warming tables, they have a heater under a table which is has a bedspread/duvet, they sit under the table with the duvet over them down to the floor, it is so delicious to sit under the warming table, it keeps your whole body warm.

I solved my heating bills by ....leaving that titanic dump and going to a warmer country. I don't know what folks there are gunna do now.

Pensioners in the UK need to demand a Pension that’s fit for purpose.

I rarely switch my heating on either, unless the temperature falls below zero. On a very cold day I make up hot water bottles to warm me up.

You get the politicians you deserve. And their policies or non-policies too. Every second she talked, this came to my mind.

What's coming after the people have been freezing for a while, is the mold epidemic in buildings that haven't been heated in the winter properly, and have built up condensation in the structural elements.

This is making me so sad and sick. How can we help other than writing endless letters to the local Mp, etc... ?

This is so tragic. I also think she should bundle up better. It isnt a solution but they aren't going to help her soon.

and yet no one asks: we've spent the last 20 years investing in those supposedly cheap renewables, so how come we end up in this mess immediately when gas prices spike up? by now we shouldn't even need this gas anymore, should those green promises be anywhere close to reality...

Borris is doing nothing about it because he's loving the money he's racking in and he like to see people beg for murcy he just loves the misory he is causing.

As an italian I was impressed when I moved to the UK; people have to choose between eating and heating. No one is helping them, especially old people. I volunteer at a food bank and sometimes I wonder if I'm living in a third world country. Also why her family is not helping her in some way?

would be interesting to know, if this poor lady voted Tory in 2019. The way she particularly asks: "Why isn't Boris doing something about it?" really is telling.

If anyone is reading this and wondering how they can make their boiler run a bit more efficiently, turn the temperature down on your heating system. Condensing boilers require the water that is coming back from the radiators to be cold. If you are seeing steam coming from the chimney of your boiler it means that the boiler is losing a lot of heat through the chimney. Turn the temperature down, you'll see some reductions in your bill!

It's fine, we will all just clap for the pensioners and the problems will disappear

she gets over £800 per month in pension, lives in a rent free flat and has free travel pass. How can she not afford to £60 per month gas bill??

"When a regime has been in power too long, when it has fatally exhausted the patience of the people and when oblivion finally beckons - i´m afraid that across the world, you can rely on the leaders of that regime will act solely in the interest of self-preservation and not in the interest of the electorate" - quote Boris Johnson (according to James O´Brian) your leaders act only in the interest of self-preservation and self-enrichment. And you fell for voting for them time and time again .. and you WILL vote for them again when time comes. - Because one of their biggest achievements is that NOT voting for them is rejecting your own identity. You were groomed to believe - genuinely and truly believe ... that voting for "the other" only makes things worse ... and so, you keep voting for the Tory party while complaining about the outcome.

£60? That's cheap as chips mate. Even doubled, £120 for gas/electric a month? Hardly unaffordable

Politicians in general don't give a damn about the people , sadly to say this.

Every cloud has a silver lining. If there's one thing that'll do for Johnson it's the cost of living.

Fewer MPs with second/third jobs. Fewer MPs with second third/fourth/homes. Fewer MPs with second/third/fourth homes who rent them out whilst still claiming accommodation allowances. Fewer MPs who use tax havens. Fewer MPs who are millionaires. Fewer MPs with trust funds. Fewer MPs who went to public school. Fewer MPs who went to oxbridge. Fewer MPs who still have nannies. Fewer drunk MPs. And NO MPs who were in the Bullingdon club. Ever.

What on earth is going on? Shocking. Absolutely shocking, made so by how unnecessary it is.

I'm reading this a year after this was put on here and its now much much worse for pensioners in most parts of the world.

I'm sad and angry. Why should anyone go through this. Like many people I try to help: stuff for the foodbank; signing petitions; writing to my MP, donated laptops at the start of the pandemic for schoolkids remote learning. But I get an uncomfortable feeling that I'm a government enabler by trying to help people eff'd over by the Eton and Harrow gang and their sycophants. Won't stop doing these things but don't hold out much hope that things will get better. Like all children, our politicians will stay on the gravy train as long as they bloody well can, as long as they seem to be getting away with it. £2000 pay rise now, because we're worth it...?

top tip, use the heat from the ring that the kettle is on to warm your hands, 50% gas saving there

"Why isn't Boris doing something about it?"..... Unfortunately, people like this lady voted for Boris. Without two pennies to rub together..and thought that a Tory vote was the right way to go. This, is what it brings for the people without any money. I've got very little sympathy for people that voted Tory but are now suffering as a result.