Tories go after pensioners’ benefits at their peril

SIR – The Conservative Party should think long and hard before meddling with the winter fuel allowance (“Tories woo young voters with call for means-tested winter fuel benefit”, report, May 15).

In the weeks leading up to the last general election, the Conservatives were expected to romp home with a substantial majority – until, about a month before election day, Theresa May’s closest advisers suggested the Party consider an attack on bus passes, winter fuel allowances and the triple lock on pensions. The last of these had been regarded as sacrosanct by her predecessor.

Having threatened a few million pensioners with financial penalties, the party’s fate in the subsequent election should not have surprised anyone. The aforementioned advisers were also sacked shortly afterwards. David Norris

Quorn, Leicestershire

SIR – Does Michael Gove really believe the Conservative Party can endear itself to younger voters by punishing their grandparents? John Chinnick

Weston-super-mare, Somerset

SIR – Why is there talk about meanstesting winter fuel payments when it could just be taxed like pensions and all other forms of income?

That way, those who don’t need the allowance would lose it in their tax payments. Penny Cole

Watlington, Oxfordshire