Treasury: Winter fuel U-turn will 'still be targeted to those that need it most'

LABOUR won't fully reverse its cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners, a senior Treasury minister has suggested.

- By Martyn Brown Political Editor

Darren Jones said the vital payments will be “targeted to those that need it the most”.

But he insisted there shouldn’t be a blanket benefit for all OAPs. Mr Jones said millionaires should not get “subsidy for their energy bills from the Government”.

His remarks come after Sir Keir Starmer said that he wants to restore the payments to more pensioners, following pressure from campaigners. The Prime Minister claimed the UK’s improving economic prospects could allow for the move at the next fiscal event - most likely an Autumn Budget. The partial U-turn came as ministers are continuing to face calls to scrap the two-child benefit cap.