PM’s bus pass remark ‘disappointing’
THE London pensioner whose daily struggle with the cost of living crisis became the main talking point of a TV interview with Boris Johnson was today hailed as a “tireless campaigner” for the rights of the elderly and vulnerable.
The Prime Ministerwas told yesterday by Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid about how 77-year-old Elsie was forced to ride on buses all day to keep her heating bills down.
Chief executive of Age UK Westminster Mehfuz Ahmed told the Standard: “The examples of those travelling on heated buses because they can’t afford to heat their own homes is the reality for some people.”
He added the council flat tenant, who worked in the engineering and construction sectors before retirement, had tackled Rishi Sunak about the energy crisis when he visited the charity
He said: “Rishi Sunak visited our charity and Elsie wanted answers. She was very forthright. We are proud that Elsie has put these points to the chancellor and effectively to the Prime Minister” .
The mother-of-six and grandmother to 12 lives in a Westminster council flat in a block of private and social housing and volunteers with Westminster Age UK where she is a much respected ‘befriender’ of others also hit by the rising costs of daily essentials.
But last night Elsie said she was “disappointed” with Boris Johnson’s response in the interview.
When told about her efforts to keep warm, the former London mayor replied: “The 24-hour freedom bus pass [allowing free bus travel for over-60s in London] was something that I actually introduced.”
But speaking to LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr about her interview with the PM, Reid said: “I’ve spoken to Elsie, since the interview, and she says how disappointed she is with what he said.
“Because she says there are people who are even worse off than she is, and there was no answer for them, apart from ‘ oh I was the person who was responsible for the bus pass,’ I mean, as if she’s supposed to be grateful.”
According to Reid, Elsie’s gas and electricity bill has soared from £17 to £85 a month. She has lost weight after reducing herself to one meal a day.