Keir Starmer opens the door to a dramatic U-turn on winter fuel allowances – as Prime Minister acknowledges that REFORM is the real opposition
Keir Starmer last night opened the door to a dramatic U-turn on the winter fuel allowance.
The Prime Minister refused to deny reports that he is in talks to water down the cruel cut which has become a millstone round Labour‘s neck.
Ministers are discussing proposals that could see the annual payment, worth up to £300, restored to millions of pensioners who lost it last year in one of Labour’s first acts in power.
The Prime Minister last night defended the decision to means-test the payment, saying the £1.4 billion savings had helped to ‘stabilise the economy’.
But he refused three times to deny that talks are under way to soften the impact of the policy, which has been blamed by Labour MPs for the collapse of the party’s poll rating.
Whitehall sources said the policy was unlikely to be ditched in full to avoid total humiliation for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who championed it.
But officials are looking at options to raise the income threshold at which pensioners lose the payment.
Ms Reeves limited eligibility for the previously universal benefit to those on Pension Credit, which has an income threshold of around £11,500. The decision led to 10 million losing the benefit outright.
Keir Starmer (pictured) last night opened the door to a dramatic U-turn on the winter fuel allowance
Labour insiders say the local elections have convinced the Prime Minister that a ‘realignment’ is under way on the Right of British politics that will see Nigel Farage (pictured) emerge as the party’s main challenger
Downing Street did not deny that talks about reform of the policy were under way but insisted there were no current plans to change it. A spokesman said: ‘There are always discussions about policies, but the policy stands.’
The revelation comes amid mounting anger among Labour backbenchers about ‘austerity’ polices being pursued by the Government.
Public anger over cuts to winter fuel and disability benefits have been blamed for Labour’s disastrous performance in this month’s local elections.
Dozens of Labour MPs are pushing for the winter fuel cut to be reversed, while more than 100 are threatening to vote against plans to slash £5 billion from disability benefits.
The PM faces a showdown over the issue on Monday at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party.
Starmer: Reform is the real opposition
By Jason Groves, Political Editor
Reform is now the ‘real opposition’ to Labour and the Conservatives could be ‘finished’ as a political party, Keir Starmer has told ministers.
Labour insiders say the local elections have convinced the Prime Minister that a ‘realignment’ is under way on the Right of British politics that will see Nigel Farage emerge as the party’s main challenger.
Labour plans to step up its attacks on the Reform leader’s past comments on the NHS and his admiration for Vladimir Putin.
A senior Labour source said: ‘The PM is clear that we need to focus on the real opponent – and that is Farage.’
Strategists believe talking up the threat of Reform will also fuel the infighting on the Right of politics, making it easier for an unpopular Labour Party to cling on.
But it is likely to alarm those on the Labour Left who fear losing votes to the Lib Dems and Greens if the party tacks to the Right.
Keir Starmer last night opened the door to a dramatic U-turn on the winter fuel allowance.
The Prime Minister refused to deny reports that he is in talks to water down the cruel cut which has become a millstone round Labour‘s neck.
Ministers are discussing proposals that could see the annual payment, worth up to £300, restored to millions of pensioners who lost it last year in one of Labour’s first acts in power.
The Prime Minister last night defended the decision to means-test the payment, saying the £1.4 billion savings had helped to ‘stabilise the economy’.
But he refused three times to deny that talks are under way to soften the impact of the policy, which has been blamed by Labour MPs for the collapse of the party’s poll rating.
Whitehall sources said the policy was unlikely to be ditched in full to avoid total humiliation for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who championed it.
But officials are looking at options to raise the income threshold at which pensioners lose the payment.
Ms Reeves limited eligibility for the previously universal benefit to those on Pension Credit, which has an income threshold of around £11,500. The decision led to 10 million losing the benefit outright.
Keir Starmer (pictured) last night opened the door to a dramatic U-turn on the winter fuel allowance
Labour insiders say the local elections have convinced the Prime Minister that a ‘realignment’ is under way on the Right of British politics that will see Nigel Farage (pictured) emerge as the party’s main challenger
Downing Street did not deny that talks about reform of the policy were under way but insisted there were no current plans to change it. A spokesman said: ‘There are always discussions about policies, but the policy stands.’
The revelation comes amid mounting anger among Labour backbenchers about ‘austerity’ polices being pursued by the Government.
Public anger over cuts to winter fuel and disability benefits have been blamed for Labour’s disastrous performance in this month’s local elections.
Dozens of Labour MPs are pushing for the winter fuel cut to be reversed, while more than 100 are threatening to vote against plans to slash £5 billion from disability benefits.
The PM faces a showdown over the issue on Monday at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party.
Starmer: Reform is the real opposition
By Jason Groves, Political Editor
Reform is now the ‘real opposition’ to Labour and the Conservatives could be ‘finished’ as a political party, Keir Starmer has told ministers.
Labour insiders say the local elections have convinced the Prime Minister that a ‘realignment’ is under way on the Right of British politics that will see Nigel Farage emerge as the party’s main challenger.
Labour plans to step up its attacks on the Reform leader’s past comments on the NHS and his admiration for Vladimir Putin.
A senior Labour source said: ‘The PM is clear that we need to focus on the real opponent – and that is Farage.’
Strategists believe talking up the threat of Reform will also fuel the infighting on the Right of politics, making it easier for an unpopular Labour Party to cling on.
But it is likely to alarm those on the Labour Left who fear losing votes to the Lib Dems and Greens if the party tacks to the Right.
