'Starmer may U-turn on review of winter fuel cut'

SIR Keir Starmer is said to be mulling a partial U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts following Labour's devastating defeat in last week's elections.

- By Jonathan Walker Whitehall Editor

Ministers fear the changes, which the Government admits will plunge 100,000 pensioners into poverty, have turned voters against the party and could cost them victory at the next general election.

Now No 10 is considering whether to increase the threshold at which pensioners stop being eligible for the allowance, sources told The Guardian.

More than nine million pensioners no longer receive payments of up to £300 as a result of changes by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

It means only people eligible for pension credit usually qualify for the benefit while single pensioners with incomes of about £11,809, or couples with incomes over £18,023, are deemed to be too wealthy to need the support.