Talk over U-turn on winter fuel payment ‘intensifies'

Sir Keir Starmer is poised to reverse controversial reforms to his government’s infamous winter fuel payment cuts as soon as June, according to reports.

- KATE DEVLIN ARCHIE MITCHELL

The move could allow the party to repair its damaged relationship with voters and tackle the threat from Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

Rachel Reeves’s decision to strip 10 million pensioners of the payment within weeks of taking office has proven toxic for her party and was a key issue during last month’s local elections, which were disastrous for Labour.

Discussion on the policy within No 10 has intensified after focus groups of voters showed Labour could be forgiven for the move if there was a full or semi-U-turn, according to The i Paper. And, asked during a trip to Albania whether he was considering changing course, the PM refused to rule out making more people eligible for the allowance.