Whole lotta cash: Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant collars peer over winter fuel payment
Written by News on 05/12/2017
Rock star Robert Plant collared a peer in the street and quizzed her on why he should get a winter fuel payment from the Government.
Broadcaster Baroness Bakewell revealed the encounter with the multimillionaire Led Zeppelin frontman during a debate in the House of Lords.
She said the "multibillionaire rock star" wanted to know why he had been given the annual allowance, which is worth as much as £300 for older pensioners.
The Labour peer said she was of the view that the benefit should be means-tested and revealed that when she first received it, she tried to send the cash back but found there was no mechanism for doing so.
"I, like many, give that heating allowance to charity but it could be means-tested if it was added to the income tax statement of our incomes," she told peers.
Lady Bakewell also hit out at the Chancellor, criticising Philip Hammond for failing to address the issue of social care for the elderly in last month’s Budget.
She told the chamber: "The Government spends £140bn on old people. Six per cent of that goes on social care. This is bad economics and bad social care.
"Will the Government please sort it out."
Robert Plant is one of the UK’s richest musicians and is believed to be worth more than £100m.
He was lead singer and lyricist for Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential bands of all time, who are estimated to have sold more than 200m albums.
The group had eight consecutive UK number one albums and are best known for songs including Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll and Whole Lotta Love.
(c) Sky News 2017: Whole lotta cash: Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant collars peer over winter fuel payment
