Susanna Reid ripped into Pat McFadden (Image: ITV)
ripped into over Labour’s treatment of pensioners on .
During Monday’s instalment (January 13) of the programme, Susanna and co-host spoke to Elaine Yates, an elderly pensioner who had been stripped of her .
The 75-year-old, who spent more than 20 years looking after her husband and has lung disease, revealed she had just five cooked meals last year as she couldn’t afford to use her oven and heating.
After playing the clip of Elaine, Susanna fumed: “How can you do that with a straight face as a government minister, a Labour government minister who’s taken away money from some of the poorest in our society?”
The Labour MP said the government targeted the on the poorest pensioners because many of them can qualify for pension credit.
McFadden revealed that members of his constituency weren’t aware that they were entitled to pension credit and have now been able to access other benefits they didn’t know were available to them.
But Susanna swiftly interjected: “You own government department doesn’t know if she’s entitled to it or not.”
Earlier in the show, Elaine revealed that she applied for pension credit and received a letter saying she would get it, before the helpline told her that she wouldn’t.
After Elaine appeared on Good Morning Britain, the sent her a letter saying she might be eligible, whilst the online calculator says she should be entitled to the winter fuel allowance.
Elaine explained how she applied for both more than a month ago but has heard nothing since.
Susanna fumed: “You took this away from millions of pensioners and now you’ve left people like Elaine not knowing what she’s entitled to and certainly not getting the money in time for the cold snap.”
McFadden responded: “I hope she gets her answer soon. We’ve taken on extra people to process these applications. I hope she gets an answer very soon.
“If she is entitled to it, that will get her the but also possibly access to other benefits that she might not have had access to in the past.”
A frustrated Susanna asked why the government took away the for pensioners.
“Why did you do that as a Labour government that should have as its principle, ‘Look after those who can’t pay.’ Aside from the poorest, why did you take the money away from them?”
This is a breaking live TV story, the team will be updating this story with the latest information as soon as we receive it. For further updates, please refresh the page
You can also get email updates on the day’s biggest TV stories straight to your inbox by
Get all the very best news, pictures, opinion and video on your favourite TV shows by following every time you see our name.
-
Follow Express on Google News –
-
Follow Express on Apple News -_ available on Apple devices_
-
Follow Express on _Flipboard – _ and click follow
You can also sign up for Twitter alerts for breaking news and all the latest updates by following, or for the latest TV and showbiz news, follow
Keep up-to-date with your must-see TV stories, features, videos and pictures throughout the day by following us on Facebook at