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Blaydon and Consett MP Liz Twist, who serves as the Prime Minister's private secretary, stood down as chair of Age UK Gateshead on Tuesday after coming under pressure over her position on the winter fuel allowance. In a board meeting on Tuesday evening, the government frontbencher announced her decision to step down from the role. Following the meeting, a statement from Ms Twist said: "Tonight I have informed the Board of Trustees of Age UK Gateshead that I will stand down as Chair of the charity.
"I have done this because of the consistent pressure being placed on the charity by a number of people." The charity received a number of emails from constituents about Ms Twist's role as chair of the board. "Age UK Gateshead is an amazing charity which does a huge amount of good work right across the borough of Gateshead and I have been proud to support the charity over many years in its work in practical ways as well as its Chair," Ms Twist said.
"It is important to all of us that their work is able to continue. "This is not a decision that I wanted to make, but it is necessary so that their work can carry on. I regret that a minority of people have chosen to bring their views around political decisions into a charitable setting in which the goal is to support those who need it most.
"The values of Age UK Gateshead are still close to my heart and I will continue to work with them. and all charities to support that vision. I would like to thank the Chief Executive, Ian Wolstenholme; the staff and the trustees for their incredible work in supporting older people across Gateshead.
"It remains my belief that this Labour Government will work to better the lives of everyone across our country and I am excited to play my role in this." Ms Twist voted with the government to restrict winter fuel payments to the poorest in society, prompting calls from constituents to resign her role with the charity. Recommended reading Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo here.
(Image: Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament) One constituent took to social media to say: "Age UK had a petition to keep the winter fuel payment, yet our MP voted against keeping it while being the Chair of Age UK Gateshead." On Friday, Ms Twist was forced to deny rumours that she had resigned as chair of the charity after an email appearing to suggest she had circulated on social media. A parliamentary private secretary essentially acts as an unpaid assistant to a government minister.
As PPS to Keir Starmer, Ms Twist's job takes her to Downing Street as the 'eyes and ears' of the Prime Minister among backbench MPs where she is tasked with reporting any unease with certain government policies that is being expressed by Labour MPs..
