Keir Starmer Confirms The Government Will U-Turn On Its Winter Fuel Policy

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a reception following the UK-EU summit, in London, Monday May 19, 2025. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP)Keir Starmer has confirmed that the government is set to U-turn on its decision to axe winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners.The prime minister said he wants to make more pensioners eligible for the payment.It follows a furious backlash from voters and Labour MPs to the deeply unpopular policy.His comments, at prime minister’s questions, suggest that the income threshold for qualifying for the annual payment, which is currently £11,500, will be increased so that more pensioners are eligible for it.Starmer told the Commons: “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.”The PM said the change is likely to come in “at a fiscal event”, meaning it is set be confirmed by Rachel Reeves at next month’s spending review.HuffPost UK revealed earlier this month that the chancellor was holding talks in Downing Street on changing the winter fuel policy, which she announced shortly after Labour won the election last July.Downing Street had initially denied it had any plans to water down the policy, despite it being partly blamed for Labour’s disastrous result at the local elections.Labour MPs also made clear their anger directly to Starmer at a meeting in parliament on Monday evening.HuffPost UK understands that advisers close to the PM were vehemently opposed to any climbdown, but the decision was eventually taken that the political damage it was doing to Labour’s support was too great.Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “The world’s longest u-turn continues. The prime minister has today announced the ‘concepts of a plan’ that have come far too late for the millions of pensioners forced to freeze in their own homes over the winter. “The least those people deserve is an apology for this punitive policy and a serious proposal from the prime minister on how he will begin to pick up the pieces from his government’s disastrous decision.”Related...Exclusive: Rachel Reeves Has Been Involved In Talks On Changing Labour's Winter Fuel Payment PolicyDowning Street Rules Out U-Turn On Decision To Axe Winter Fuel Payments For 10 Million Pensioners

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