“Heat or eat? Ask for help or die! These are the ‘choices’ facing pensioners in the bitter winter. Brown is still bailing out the banksters, but claims that there’s no money to help pensioners survive the cold. Well, since he won’t help, we must. Every single BNP group in the country should organise practical help for vulnerable old folk in their area. Not next month, not next week, but now, while it’s needed; before even more die.”

This is the New Year call to action from BNP leader Nick Griffin as even colder weather is forecast to threaten pensioners in danger of freezing to death because they can’t afford both to heat their homes and eat.

“The 5% VAT Cold Tax slapped on heating fuels by the last Tory government — and left in place by Gordon — is the final straw for many,” says Mr Griffin, “and while the Government can’t in the short-term do anything to reduce our reliance on expensive imported energy sources, this deadly extra cost burden could be removed at the stroke of a pen by Gordon Brown.”

“All it would take is an act of political will. All it would take is a bit of compassion. All it would take is recognition of the fact that the unnecessary death of scores of thousands of British pensioners is a national emergency and shame happening right now — and that dealing with such emergencies and preventing such shame is one of the primary functions of proper government.

“So we call on Brown to axe the Cold Tax. We call on Cameron to admit that his party got it wrong by imposing it in the first place. And we call on our own activists and supporters to do something practical to help alleviate the impact of the deadly combination of cold and old party callousness.

“Go and check on elderly people living alone in your street. Take a leccy card or a spare duvet or a flask of tea. Most of all, take a smiling face and reassurance that someone remembers, that someone cares.”