Keir's U-turn fuels another winter of discontent

LABOUR left 10 million pensioners out in the cold by axing the winter fuel payment for all but the poorest last year. Now they're in the dark as well, following Sir Keir Starmer's vague pledge to restore it.

- By Harvey Jones

The Prime Minister told Parliament on Wednesday he wants to ensure "that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments". While the move was widely welcomed, it sheds little or no light on what Labour is actually going to do, and who will get the money worth up to £300.

Starmer suggested the decision will be made "as part of a fiscal event", presumably Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Autumn Budget.

That leaves millions facing months of uncertainty before they know whether they will see any money, and if it will arrive in time for winter.

COLD COMFORT

The PM's use of the phrase "more pensioners" rather than "all pensioners" hinted that many are doomed to be disappointed.

Instead, we may see some kind of means testing to limit the cost, but this could prove complex in practice.

Amy Dodge, head of influencing at Independent Age, said Reeves's decision last July to link winter fuel payments to means-tested top-up pension credit was misguided: "Far too many older people on low incomes fell through the cracks."

Dodge added: "The Government must provide clarity and act now. We can't have a repeat of last winter where millions of older people were left out in the cold."

Instead of clarity, Labour's options look increasingly murky.

U-TURN