Talks in No 10 about reversing the policy accelerated this week as party turmoil grows
A pensioner with diabetes has said that if Labour reverses its decision to means-test winter fuel payments, it would only be to fend off the threat of Reform UK, rather than help pensioners.
Sir Keir Starmer is considering reversing the controversial policy, which restricted winter fuel payments to those claiming pension credit and other income-related benefits, The i Paper understands.
The move, which aimed to save £1.4bn, meant around nine million pensioners no longer qualified for the annual allowance, worth between £100 and £300.
The decision sparked backlash within Labour and is believed to have helped Reform make sweeping gains in the local elections.
Talks in No 10 about reversing the policy accelerated this week, after focus groups indicated voters would not necessarily bear a grudge against the Government if it performed a partial or full U-turn.
Ministers are considering plans to increase the £11,500 income threshold over which pensioners no longer qualify for the allowance, meaning a larger number of people would be eligible for the payments.
But Kevin Day, 68, said that any reversal of the winter fuel cuts would seek to regain voters from Reform after its strong performance in the local elections, where Nigel Farage’s party won 10 county councils and two mayoralties, as well as narrowly winning the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
‘I used to vote for Labour but not now’
Mr Day, from Hertfordshire, told The i Paper he has voted Labour since he was 18, but chose the Green Party at the local elections in protest of Starmer’s policies.
The father-of-two, who missed out on the winter fuel payment after the cuts, said what angered him most was that the policy was not in Labour’s manifesto.
“It was done on the sly,” he said. “It was basically imposed on people.”
Asked whether he would vote Labour at the next general election, he said: “I don’t think you can trust them.
“I think the only reason I’d vote Labour is to keep Reform out.
“But at the moment, I’m inclined to vote Green.”
Responding to reports the Government is considering a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, Mr Day said it would simply compound his “feelings about the leadership of the Labour Party at the moment”, citing its tendency to backtrack on previous commitments.
He added: “I accept that if you make a mistake, owning up to the mistake and changing direction is a good thing to do
“But they have not owned up to the mistake. They are being pushed to make a change because they are losing so many votes to Reform.
“They are trying to pander to both sides. On the one hand they want to stop immigration.
“Now they’re talking about opening the doors to people under 30 through a potential youth mobility scheme with the EU.
“It seems that they want their cake and eat it.”
Mr Day said any decision by Labour to reverse the cuts will not “recover the votes that they’ve lost – people have moved ground”,” he added.”
Two-child benefit cap changes
Senior government figures told The Sunday Times Labour is also considering reversing its two-child benefit cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children.
No decisions on changes to the winter fuel allowance have yet been made. Some sources suggested Chancellor Rachel Reeves could announce the changes as soon as the Spending Review on 11 June.
Adding to the backlash sparked by the winter fuel cuts, at least two letters were circulated last week setting out MPs’ concerns over the impact of the benefit reforms on claimants, which include plans to cut personal independence payments (PIP) for people with disabilities.
Around 80 MPs are believed to have signed the letters, including Labour and suspended former Labour MPs from the traditional left of the party, such as veteran Diane Abbott and Leeds MP Richard Burgon.
The letters warned Downing Street that MPs will oppose the reforms when they come to be voted on in the Commons in June.
The DWP has been contacted for a comment.
