CliffNotes
- PM refuses to scrap cuts to winter fuel payments
- It comes despite massive Labour losses at local elections
- Labour MPs worried say its ‘rolling out red carpet for Reform’
- Wes Streeting says no review of the change but ministers ‘reflecting’ on election results
PM refuses to scrap cuts to winter fuel payments – ‘rolling out red carpet to Reform’
What Happened
The government says it will not reverse cuts to winter fuel payments despite the measure causing turmoil in the party. Since last week’s local election losses for Labour (and huge gains for Reform), there have been growing calls within the party for the cuts to be abandoned.
The prime minister’s spokesperson has said there “will not be a change to the government’s policy.” He says the move to restrict who is eligible for the payments was required to “ensure economic stability and repair the public finances”.
What Comes Next
It’s not too clear. Heath Secretary Wes Streeting insisted the winter fuel policy was not being formally reviewed but did say that ministers were “reflecting on what the voters told us” at last week’s elections, where Labour lost around two-thirds of the council seats it was defending.”
The issue was one of the major issues during last week’s local elections which saw Labour lose 187 council seats. One thing is clear, if changes don’t come soon, Labour can expect to lose more ground to Reform.
Money Expert Martin Lewis said: “Reports Government may partially U-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment cut by raising the effective eligibility threshold from £11,500. That’d be welcome but still doesn’t fix the worst underlying problem… the means testing mechanism (ie to get it you must claim Pension Credit) is flawed.”
Reactions From The Media
- Daily Mirror reports the prime minister’s refusal to scrap cuts to winter fuel payments is like “rolling out the red carpet to Reform,” according to one Labour MP.
- The Daily Express calls it “Labour turmoil” after the prime minister ruled out a U-turn on cutting winter fuel payments for OAPs. The paper says it comes despite Wes Streeting admitting that the cuts were an issue for the party at local elections last week.
- The i says small changes to the cuts will “not be enough to win back voters” Labour MPs warn the PM. An insider tells the paper that the policy had been like “kryptonite” on the doorstep.
- The Express reports Reform pledges to restore winter fuel payments ‘straight away’ by slashing foreign aid.
- The National Scot reports money expert Martin Lewis has hit out at an apparent plan by the UK Government to rethink its controversial Winter Fuel Payment cut.