Pensioner who takes buses to keep warm 'disappointed' after PM fails to offer solution

3 May 2022, 19:07 | Updated: 3 May 2022, 19:47

Susanna Reid has revealed a 77-year-old woman who rides buses all day because she can&squot;t afford to heat her home, was left "disappointed" after Boris Johnson failed to offer a solution to help.
Susanna Reid has revealed a 77-year-old woman who rides buses all day because she can't afford to heat her home, was left "disappointed" after Boris Johnson failed to offer a solution to help. Picture: Alamy

By Megan Hinton

Susanna Reid has revealed a 77-year-old woman who rides buses all day because she can't afford to heat her home, was left "disappointed" after Boris Johnson failed to offer a solution to help.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

It comes after the PM was challenged by Ms Reid on the £9billion package of loans to cut energy bills and council tax rebates, amid calls for him to go further.

He was challenged about the story of Elsie, a 77-year-old pensioner, who rides buses all day because she can’t afford to heat her home.

The widow, who lives in a council house, has cut down to one meal a day after seeing her energy bill increase from £17 to £85 a month.

She receives a pension of £170 a week.

Asked what Elsie should cut back on now, the Prime Minister said "I don't want Elsie to cut back on anything", in an interview with Good Morning Britain.

He added: "The 24-hour freedom bus pass was actually something that I actually introduced."

Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr, Susanna Reid revealed: "I spoke to Elsie after my interview with the Prime Minister 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 is supposed to be grateful for that."

Watch Tonight with Andrew Marr exclusively on Global Player every Monday to Thursday from 6pm to 7pm

Elsie 'disappointed' by PM's answer to her plight

It came after Ms Reid explained how she came across Elsie's story.

"We were doing a cost of living special on GMB with Martin Lewis and we found Elsie and discovered some details about her," she said.

"When I was doing my research for the interview with the Prime Minister, it struck me that it's very easy for the PM to bandy about very big figures - 'we're spending a billion on this, we've doubled spending on this, we've got one billion going into this...' - but as I looked through those case studies, it struck me: what does that mean to Elsie?

"It doesn't mean anything to Elsie.

"If she gets on a bus every day because that stops her putting the heating on at home, what is the Prime Minister going to do directly for Elsie?"

You can also listen to the podcast Tonight with Andrew Marr only on Global Player.

Susanna Reid says Prime Minister posed for photographs after interview

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, earlier described the Prime Minister's response to Elsie's story as "out of touch".

"It is utterly shameful that pensioners have no choice but to sit on the bus all day to avoid racking up heating bills at home, or are left shivering in blankets and only eating one meal a day," he said.

Read more: Boris squirms as he is grilled about pensioner who rides bus all day to keep warm

"For Boris Johnson to respond by boasting about the London bus pass reveals just how out of touch this narcissistic Prime Minister is. The simple truth is Boris Johnson has just imposed the biggest real terms cut to the pension in 50 years and charities like Age UK are warning this will be a year of hell for Britain’s retirees.

"A vote for Labour on Thursday is a vote to send the Conservatives a message they can't ignore about why we need a windfall tax to provide real help to families facing the Conservatives’ cost of living crisis."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Dozens of Russian spies have been sanctioned by the Government - including 18 military intelligence officers who the Foreign Office says are responsible for malicious cyber-attacks on Britain.

Revealed: Russian spies sanctioned for cyber attacks including on Salisbury Novichok victim Yulia Skripal

Demonstration on the eve of parliament voting to proscribe Palestine Action.

Five charged over break-in at weapons firm Elbit Systems UK during Palestine Action protest

A fund has been launched in memory of the two men who were found dead in the holiday pool

Sister pays tribute to drowned Briton who ‘died trying to save his friend’ in Portugal

The tech firm whose CEO was caught seemingly having an affair with his colleague on the kisscam at a Coldplay gig has broken its silence after a fake statement from the CEO went viral.

Tech firm launches investigation into CEO caught 'having an affair' on kisscam with HR chief at Coldplay gig

Distressing footage Body worn footage shows PC Lydia Ward being comforted by colleagues as she is bleeding from the nose after she tried to arrest an assault suspect at Manchester Airport.

Student tells court he 'did not know' police officers he hit at Manchester Airport were women

Sandie Peggie is the claimant in the tribunal case against NHS Fife.

NHS Fife calls in cops over threats to staff in controversial tribunal case

Arsenal unveil new signing Noni Madueke at Sobha Realty Training Centre on July 18, 2025 in London Colney, England.

Arsenal complete £50m transfer of Chelsea forward amid ‘bullying’ by section of fans

Appearing in Woolwich Crown Court, each member of the group of eight were jailed for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months.

Drug dealing ‘gangster granny’ who led family in lucrative £1k-a-day cocaine operation jailed for 20 years

Patrick Howlett, 58

Man who sent £56,000 to Philippines for livestreamed sexual abuse of children jailed for 30 years

The chancellor seems likely to freeze fuel duty once again in the autumn Budget, easing a burden on thousands of households amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Major cost of living boost as fuel duty to be frozen once again

The explosion happened at Biscailuz Center Academy Training.

At least three people killed in 'horrific incident' at Los Angeles sheriff training facility

Jess Glynne usually closes her shows with Hold My Hand, which has become her signature song

Fans chant 'nothing beats a Jet2 holiday' at Jess Glynne concert

Farzana Kauser, 54,

Bradford mum was family crime group boss who used her children in international cocaine plots

Jayden, who was a passenger on the bus and was treated for a suspected broken collarbone, with his mum, Kim outside Minehead Middle Schoo

'I remember climbing out': Pupil opens up about horror Somerset coach crash as boy, 10, dead

Isa Giga

Man who travelled to Syria to 'fight for Jihad’ convicted of terrorism offence

The collection is called Let the Light In and features a painting of a rose for his daughter, the Nosferatu actress Lily-Rose Depp.

Johnny Depp self-portrait to go on sale alongside artwork dedicated to his daughter Lily-Rose Depp