‘No change!’ Fury as No 10 doubles down on winter fuel payment cut despite election defeat.uk
Defiant Downing Street says ‘we won’t be blown off course’ as demands to rethink controversial policy grow after ballot box disaster
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has ruled out a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted there will be “no change” to the Government’s winter fuel payment cut despite calls to soften the blow following dis astrous local election results
He said: “We were elected as a stable and serious party after 14 years of chaos and decline. We won’t be blown off course and it’s that mindset and focus that has allowed us to make the progress we have.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman added: “The policy is set out, there will not be a change to the Government’s policy.”
He added that the decision “was one that we had to take to ensure economic stability and repair the public finances following the £22billion black hole left by the previous government”.
He also pointed to an expected £1,900 increase in the state pension over the course of the Parliament and an extension to the household support fund as ways the Government was supporting pensioners.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper MP said: “This is a completely tone deaf response to the local elections.
“The public are rightly furious at the Government’s decision to rip vital support from millions of the most vulnerable yet ministers simply are not listening.
“From Winter Fuel Payments to the Family Farm Tax, this Government has turned a blind eye to millions of people who can feel the damage that these half-baked polices are doing. It is time to change course.”
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Welsh First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan called on Sir Keir to rethink the means-testing of winter fuel payments.
It came after Health Secretary Wes Streeting refused to answer whether Labour will “look again” at cuts to winter fuel payments.
The Prime Minister was said to be considering a partial U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts following Labour’s devastating defeat in last week’s elections.
Ministers fear the changes, which the Government admits will plunge 100,000 pensioners into poverty, have turned voters against the party and could cost it victory at the next general election.
The Express has demanded a U-turn on the policy since last year, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the measure.
