Labour-Supporting Newspaper Turns On Keir Starmer As Backlash Against Flagship Policy Grows

Keir Starmer is under severe pressure to reverse the cuts to winter fuel payments.A Labour-supporting newspaper has turned on Keir Starmer over his refusal to reverse his government’s cuts to winter fuel payments.The Daily Mirror – which urges its readers to vote for the party at virtually every election – used its front page to to tell the prime minister his response to the growing backlash is “not good enough”.In a “message to Keir”, the normally-loyal paper called on the PM to “rethink his decision”.The stark warning came as a growing number of Labour MPs called on Starmer to change course.Ten million pensioners had their annual payments to help with energy bills scrapped by the government shortly after Labour’s landslide election victory last year.Only those with an income of less than £11,500 a year continue to receive the £200 benefit.Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the move was essential to help repair the public finances.Despite a growing backlash to the move, which has been partly blamed for Labour’s drubbing at last week’s local elections, a spokesman for the PM said on Tuesday: “There will not be a change to the government policy.”Wednesday's DAILY MIRROR: Not good enough#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/EiRC36CaCh— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) May 6, 2025Former transport secretary Louise Haigh, who Starmer sacked last year after it emerged she had a conviction for fraud, last night told BBC Newsnight that the winter fuel policy had become “totemic” with voters.She said: “I think the unpopular decisions are overshadowing the good ones. I think this Labour government has a lot to offer, whether it be the employment rights bill, the increase in the minimum wage, the massive investment in our NHS, but people have heard the winter fuel allowance and the welfare cuts overwhelmingly.”Meanwhile, the Red Wall Group of Labour MPs who represent seats in the Midlands and north of England being targeted by Reform UK, demanded the government U-turn on winter fuel payments.In a statement posted on X, they said: “The prime minister has shown strong leadership internationally which must now be matched at home.“Responding to the issues raised by our constituents, including on winter fuel, isn’t weak, it takes us to a position of strength.”Statement from the Red Wall Group of Labour MPs following the local elections pic.twitter.com/RKgJbhmU6z— LabourRedWallGroup (@RedWallGroup) May 6, 2025Related...Downing Street Rules Out U-Turn On Decision To Axe Winter Fuel Payments For 10 Million PensionersWes Streeting Says Pensioners Should 'Layer Up' And Put The Heating On As Millions Lose Winter Fuel PaymentsExclusive: Treasury Ministers Spent Thousands On Media Training While Axing Winter Fuel Payments

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