The Prime Minister is watering down his Winter Fuel stance, and it’s not the first time he’s changed his mind.
Keir Starmer has changed his mind on a range of issues (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer announced today that the Government is going to increase the number of pensioners who qualify for the winter fuel payment, just months after ministers cut the number that are eligible. But this is not the first time that the Prime Minister has changed his mind, and he has been forced to change his tune over multiple policies. Sir Keir told the House of Commons this afternoon: “I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, including pensioners.
“As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.” He added that the government will “only make decisions we can afford” and will therefore look at this as part of a “fiscal event”, thereby indicating a change will not be announced before the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget.
Here Express takes a look back at the 12 other U-turns Keir Starmer has made in his 320 days as Prime Minister..
WASPI women
As leader of the opposition, Starmer promised Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) women he would “do something about it”. The PM said he understood that individuals had planned for retirement but had had “the goalposts moved”.
However, in a change of tune, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced in January that WASPI women would not be getting any compensation.
WASPI women’s claims that the way in which the state pension ages for men and women were equalised meant they lost out on money to “do something about it”.
The PM added that he understood that individuals had planned for retirement but had had “the goalposts moved”.
National Insurance
Labour said in its 2024, which featured a photo of Starmer in a white shirt with his sleeves folded up and hands pocketed: “The Conservatives have raised the tax burden to a 70-year high.
“We will ensure taxes on working people are kept as low as possible. Labour will not increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of income tax, or VAT.”
Ms Reeves announced in her Autumn Statement in October that employers would have to fork out more in national insurance contributions for their employees.
Starmer previously said he would “do something about” WASPI women’s concerns (Image: Getty)
Bankers’ bonuses
Sir Keir had previously opposed Liz Truss’s decision to remove the cap on bankers’ bonuses.
But his Government has decided to keep this policy, and the i reports that this year’s City bonuses at the UK’s biggest banks jumped to more than £7billion.
Non dom tax change tweak
Rachel Reeves announced in January that changes would be made to her plan to abolish the non dom financial status—which applies to residents whose permanent homes for tax purposes are located outside the country.
This tweak would make it easier for individuals to repatriate their funds to Britain.
Previous foreign earnings will not be subject to taxes when moved between overseas accounts. Labour promised to scrap the categorisation in their manifesto for the 2024 general election.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto stated: “We will abolish non-dom status once and for all, replacing it with a modern scheme for people genuinely in the country for a short period. We will end the use of offshore trusts to avoid inheritance tax so that everyone who makes their home here in the UK pays their taxes here.
“Private equity is the only industry where performance-related pay is treated as capital gains. Labour will close this loophole.”
£28billion green investment
Before the 2024 General Election, Starmer insisted he had no choice but to ditch Labour’s £ 28 billion a year green investment pledge.
He claimed that it did not make sense to proceed due to the Conservatives‘ management of the economy.
Two-child benefit cap
Starmer promised to scrap the two-child benefit cap while trying to convince the Labour faithful to vote for him as the party’s leader.
But he doubled down on not doing so in 2023, saying he had to make “ruthless” decisions. Now, charities and a Labour-aligned pressure group have added to the calls to scrap it.
Trans women
Starmer told The Times in 2022 that “trans women are women” under the law.
But, following a Supreme Court ruling in April, the PM said that he did not now believe that trans women are women, specifically saying that a woman is an “adult female”.
Royal Mail nationalisation
During the Labour leadership campaign, Starmer promised that he would take Royal Mail into public ownership.
But, in December, a £3.6billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group was given the go-ahead.
Water nationalisation
Sir Keir said while running for leader in 2020: “Public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders.”
He added that he would support common ownership of water.
Electric nationalisation
The PM also promised to bring the country’s electricity network under public ownership. But this has not happened.
Student fees
Starmer also promised to scrap tuition fees, abolish universal credit and nationalise the country’s railways, Royal Mail, energy companies and water companies.
The Government has only embarked on taking the railways into public ownership.
5% tax on top earners
When running for the Labour leadership in 2020, Starmer said he would increase income tax for the top 5% of earners. But this has not happened, and, in 2023, The Telegraph reported that the Leader of the Opposition at the time did not want to increase income tax for top earners.
The PM has apologised to Plaid Cymru’s leader in Westminster for an exchange in the Commons last week.
Liz Saville Roberts said during PMQs after Sir Keir made a divisive speech on immigration on May 12: “This Prime Minister once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants and for defending free movement. Now he talks of an ‘island of strangers’ and ‘taking back control’.
“Somebody here has to call this out. It seems the only principle he consistently defends is the last he heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?”
Starmer said in response: “Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.”
