Starmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in U-turn

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants more pensioners to be eligible for winter fuel payments, in an apparent U-turn on one of the most unpopular policies of the Labour leader’s premiership.

“We want to ensure that as we go forward more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments,” the UK prime minister told MPs on Wednesday. “We will only make decisions we can afford.”

“We will look at that as part of a fiscal event,” he added. The next Budget will be in the autumn.

Labour received a drubbing at local elections this month, with the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments cited as one of the top frustrations raised by voters.

Starmer’s comments mark a sharp reversal just two weeks after Downing Street ruled out making changes to winter fuel payment and increasing the roughly £11,500 income threshold over which pensioners are no longer eligible for the allowance.

But the government has faced continuing uproar over its decision last year shortly after coming to power to axe £1.5bn in winter fuel payments for 10mn UK pensioners.

The policy stripped the benefit from all but the poorest pensioners and hit many people on low incomes who are not eligible for pension credit. Winter fuel payments are worth up to £300 a year depending on individual circumstances.

This is a developing story