Labour MPs said last week the controversial cut to winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners was raised on the doorstep by voters at the local elections as anger mounts
Downing Street has ruled out a U-turn on the controversial cuts to winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners – despite mounting pressure.
It came after the Health Secretary Wes Streeting admitted anger over the cuts hurt Labour in the local elections last week with voters raising the issue on the doorstep. The Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan also used a speech on Tuesday to call on Keir Starmer to reconsider the means-testing of winter fuel payments.
But No10 said there would be no change in policy after the Guardian reported there could be a re-think of the £11,500 cut-off for the allowance.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Tuesday: “The government set out its position on means-testing winter fuel. It was a difficult decision but one the government had to take to repair our public finances and stabilise the economy and the government’s priority is ensuring pensioners receive the financial support they deserve with millions set to see their state pension rise.”
“The policy is set out, there will not be a change to the government policy, which set out the difficult decision we had to take to ensure economic stability, repair the public finances following the £22billion blackhole left by the previous government.”
Pressed further, they said: “The government has set out its policies and the reasons behind these policies and there is no change to the government policy and will not be a change to the government’s policy.”
Asked about reported changes to the threshold so more pensioners would be eligible, the PM’s spokesman added: “We set out the policy and there is no change. There is no change to that policy. As I say it was a difficult decision to means-test winter fuel payments but it was one we had to do to restore economic stability and repair public finances.”
Last year the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced winter fuel payments would be means-tested – cutting eligibility for millions of pensioners – within weeks of Labour winning office. She blamed the dire inheritance left by the Tories’ 14-year spell in office and a £22billion blackhole left behind.
Speaking on Tuesday morning Mr Streeting insisted he was not close to any discussions around the policy so was “not going to speculate” on reports the allowance could be altered. But he acknowledged the public aren’t happy about the decision and said the Government was listening to voters’ rejection of Labour at the local elections.
The Cabinet minister defended the “unpopular decision”, saying it was the right thing to do to free up investment for the NHS, schools and other public services. But he added: “I know that people aren’t happy about winter fuel allowance, in lots of cases. We did protect it for the poorest pensioners but there are lots of people saying they disagree with it regardless.”
Earlier the Welsh First Minister Ms Morgan said in a speech in Cardiff: “To be honest, though, it hasn’t all been popular. The cut in winter fuel allowance is something that comes up time and again, and I hope the UK Government will rethink this policy. “
On Tuesday Mr Starmer’s press secretary insisted the gvernment will not be “blown off course” after the local election results. He said: “We were elected as a stable and serious party after 14 years of chaos and decline. We won’t be blown off course and it’s that mindset and focus that has allowed us to make the progress we have.”
The press secretary added the government was “focused on putting more money in people’s pockets” and delivering “national renewal” while “the other parties scramble for purpose or talk about flags”.