Both Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey raised the issue – blamed by Labour MPs for last week’s local election bruising – during PMQs
Keir Starmer has been confronted over a mounting winter fuel payment row during tense exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions today.
Both Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem chief Ed Davey raised the issue – blamed by Labour MPs for last week’s local election bruising – in the Commons. It comes less than 24 hours after Downing Street ruled out a U-turn on the cut for millions of pensioners unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last year.
A growing number of Labour MPs have been urging No10 to change course or risk the electoral consequences of failing to restore payments. But Mr Starmer defended the move today saying it was necessary to “stabilise the economy” after the dire inheritance left behind by the Tories after 14 years.
Sir Ed Davey urged the Prime Minister to “bring back the winter fuel payment for millions of struggling pensioners”. At PMQs, the Liberal Democrats leader said: “Among the messages voters sent ministers last week, one stood out: bring back the winter fuel payment for millions of struggling pensioners.”
Referring to criticism within Labour’s ranks, Ms Badenoch added: “This issue affects some of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners. His mayor in Doncaster says it’s wrong. His First Minister in Wales says it’s wrong. Even his own MPs are saying it’s wrong. He’s refused to listen to me on this, will he at least listen to his own party and change course?”
But Mr Starmer replied today: “Let’s spell this out. All the parties opposite would take this country back to where it was a few years ago. Broken public finances, interest rates through the roof, NHS waiting lists at all time high, because no other party in this House is prepared to say how they would put the finances straight.”
He added: “No other party is saying how they would invest in our NHS and public services. No other party is focused on the long-term prosperity of Britain. No-one on this side is denying how big the challenge is that we face, but no-one on that side of the House is even prepared to take those challenges on.”
READ MORE: Keir Starmer faces backlash after ruling out winter fuel U-turn – ‘Labour can be better than this’
Last night some 45 Labour MPs from Red Wall constituencies also urged the Prime Minister to “act now” to win back voters in the North and Midlands in the wake of Reform’s surge in the local elections.
The decision last July to restrict the winter fuel payment to the poorest pensioners was intended to save around £1.5 billion a year, with more than nine million people who would have previously been eligible losing out. Cabinet ministers acknowledged the winter fuel payment decision had hit the party at the ballot box.
Asked whether the cut had been part of Labour’s poor electoral performance, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the PA: “I think that has been a feature. I think the Prime Minister himself has said that and we’re not sugar-coating those results, they’re very challenging for us.”
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