Quote - wear woolly hats and long johns

Originally published @ 2:02 am, Wed 13th Jan 2010

Four weeks of cold weather. Cold by our recent standards, although I suspect older people remember much harsher winters. 1963? 1947?

As for memories, I wonder if they remember the last Tory MP for South Derbyshire, Edwina Currie, whose advice as a Tory minister during the cold weather was “wear woolly hats and long johns”.

So a matter for some pride that Labour can show that we offer direct financial help in winter.

Winter Fuel payments of £250 (increasing to £400 for the over 80s).

And cold weather payments of £25.

The Labour government is spending £2,700 million a year to help pensioners meet their fuel bills. In 1997, the Tories spent £60 million.

A factor of 45. And people say there's no difference.