Starmer confirms fuel payments U-turn plan

SIR Keir Starmer has said the Government wants to make more pensioners eligible for winter fuel payments.

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The apparent U-turn comes as the Prime Minister faces pressure from Labour ranks to change course over the squeeze on benefits and pensioners' winter fuel payments.

Reports suggested ministers could remove the two-child benefit cap or reconsider means-testing the winter fuel payment to placate rebellious Labour MPs.

Finding a mechanism to widen eligibility for the payment will cause headaches, because officials fear that increasing the pension credit threshold to which access is linked would also increase take-up of that benefit, wiping out any potential savings.