'Starmer has abandoned pensioners at every turn...I won't let him get away with it'

Badenoch blasts 'desperate' PM for policy flip-flop

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Labour Government have abandoned them at every turn and I won't let them get away with it.

She added: "This embarrassing U-turn is a direct result of pressure from the Conservative Party and the relentless campaigning of the Daily Express.

“Since becoming leader, I’ve challenged Keir Starmer week after week over his cruel decision to cut winter fuel payments.

“Now, under mounting pressure, Keir Starmer has finally buckled.”

UK Government officials were unable to say how many more pensioners would be eligible or if the policy will be altered this winter.

SNP First Minister John Swinney, who had pledged to mitigate some of the cuts in Scotland, called for more detail in how this U-turn will affect his government's plans and Scottish pensioners.

Mrs Badenoch has also written to Sir Keir seeking urgent clarity on the details. She said: “You admitted your Government is reviewing the threshold at which pensioners become eligible for winter fuel payments.

“You have claimed that this is because of an improving fiscal situation. However, borrowing is up, inflation has reached 3.5%, and the Office for Budget Responsibility has halved its growth forecast for 2025. No one believes you have made this U-turn for anything other than political necessity.”

This newspaper has campaigned tirelessly alongside the Silver Voices campaign group to reverse the cut for all pensioners ever since it was introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last summer.

The decision to means-test the previously universal payment was one of the first announcements after Labour's landslide election victory and was widely blamed for the party's collapse in support. It was an issue which Labour campaigners were challenged about on the doorsteps during last month's elections which saw the party lose councillors and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform UK.

Revolt