Political reporter
Sir Keir Starmer has defended the decision to axe winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, as calls for a reversal of the policy continue.
A group of around 45 Labour MPs representing seats in northern England and the Midlands have joined those urging the government to rethink the move.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Sir Keir to “listen to his own party and change course”.
The policy has partly been blamed for Labour’s poor performance in last week’s local elections in England, which saw the party lose two-thirds of the council seats it was defending.
Reform UK also defeated Labour in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, overturning a majority of nearly 15,000 to take the seat by just six votes.
The results have led to growing calls to rethink winter fuel cuts from senior Labour figures, including Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan.
But on Tuesday the government insisted it would not be changing the policy, which was introduced last year.
In the House of Commons, Badenoch asked the PM if he would now admit “he was wrong to remove the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners”.
Defending the move, Sir Keir said: “The number one job of this government was to put our finances back in order after the last government lost control.
“That is to deal with the £22bn black hole that they left. Because of our action, we’ve stabilised the economy.”
He also stressed the government was committed to the triple lock, under which pensions go up each year by the highest of inflation, average earnings or 2.5%.
Hitting back, Badenoch said: “The only black hole is the one the prime minister is digging.
“This issue affects some of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners. His mayor in Doncaster says it’s wrong. His first minister in Wales says it’s wrong. Even his own MPs are saying it’s wrong. He’s refused to listen to me on this, will he at least listen to his own party and change course?”
In response, Sir Keir said: “No other party is saying how they would invest in our NHS and public services.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also urged the PM to reverse the cuts, saying this was “among the messages voters sent ministers last week”.
The winter fuel payment is a lump sum worth between £200 and £300, designed to help with higher energy costs during the colder weather.
It was previously paid to all pensioners but last year the government restricted this to only the poorest, who qualify for pension credit and other income-related benefits, in a bid save £1.4bn.
The move, which did not feature in Labour’s general election manifesto, means around nine million pensioners no longer qualify for the payment.
Labour MPs who oppose the cuts believe a reversal of the policy would be a clear sign from the prime minister that he is listening to voters.
However, others closer to government thinking question whether there would be any political benefit to changing course at this stage, believing the damage has already been done.
Criticism of changes to disability benefits, which would make it harder for people to claim Personal Independence Payment (Pip), could become a more pressing issue, with a vote in the House of Commons likely next month.
Given Labour’s large majority there is no prospect of the government losing the vote but it could become a focus of broader disaffection.
