Winter fuel payments see u-turn on cuts with 'more pensioners eligible'

KEIR STARMER WAS QUESTIONED ON THE UNPOPULAR POLICY IN TODAY'S PMQS, AS WINTER FUEL CUTS COMPOUNDED THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS 12:52, 21 May 2025 In a u-turn on his position on the

legitimacy of Winter Fuel Payment cuts, Prime Minister Keir Starmer seems to be proposing a new assessment system to ensure more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments. Addressing

the issue in Prime Minister questions today, Sir Keir said: "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." This is a dramatic reversal of previous pledges to stay the course with the cuts, with Downing Street confirming they "won't be blown off

course" following losses in local elections at the start of the month. He continued by explaining that "As you would expect Mr Speaker, we will only make decisions we can afford,

that is why we will look at that as part of a fiscal event." Article continues below This means the latest we could see any changes would be the Autumn budget. Starmer was then

questioned by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who followed up on Starmer's first response by asking, "Will the Prime Minister make sure that struggling families and pensioners

see the benefits of the growth?" Sir Keir replied: "The economy is beginning to improve, people are still feeling the pressure, that's why we're taking the measures that

we are, that's why we're striking the trade deals that we are striking. Article continues below "As that improves, I do want people to feel the benefit of the measures that

we're taking, and that is why I want to ensure that more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel. It is important that, as you'd expect, that we are clear we can afford the

decisions we're making, and that's why it'll now be looked at at a fiscal event." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked how the public could "ever trust" Sir

Keir Starmer after the "inevitable U-turn on winter fuel" payments. JOIN OUR BREAKING NEWS AND TOP STORIES WHATSAPP COMMUNITY Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp

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