Starmer Reverses Course on Winter Fuel Payments Amid Backbench Pressure

[Social Media]

 

Starmer Reverses Course on Winter Fuel Payments Amid Backbench Pressure

 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a significant policy reversal, pledging to extend eligibility for winter fuel payments to more pensioners just weeks after his government controversially slashed the benefit for millions.

 

The initial decision, made in one of the Labour government’s earliest actions, stripped winter fuel payments—worth up to £300 annually—from around nine million pensioners. The move quickly ignited discontent among Labour’s own ranks and proved to be a contentious issue during recent local election campaigns. Candidates reported that voters repeatedly raised the cutback during doorstep conversations, reflecting widespread concern about the policy’s impact on the elderly during a time of economic strain.

 

Under mounting pressure from his party’s backbenchers, Starmer sought to ease tensions and address the backlash during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. Responding to Labour MP Sarah Owen, who asked what support the government would offer to pensioners facing the cost of living crisis, Starmer committed to broadening the scope of the winter fuel payment.

 

“We had to stabilise the economy with tough decisions but the right decisions,” Starmer said. “Because of those decisions the economy is going to improve—those growth figures last year, the highest growth in the G7, interest rates cuts four in a row, three trade deals. But I recognise people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners, and as the economy improves we want to make sure people feel those improvements.”

 

Starmer continued: “That is why we wanted to ensure, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payment. As you would expect, Mr Speaker, we will only make decisions we can afford. That is why we will look at that as part of a fiscal event.”

 

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, called Starmer’s shift in stance “extraordinary,” criticising the abrupt change as a sign of inconsistency in leadership. The climbdown comes after a private meeting between the prime minister and backbench Labour MPs earlier this week, during which the policy was directly challenged. Though Starmer defended the broader strategy of benefit reform during the meeting—referring to it as a “Labour cause”—the pressure clearly influenced his decision to re-evaluate the winter fuel payment.

 

Reports indicate that ministers are now examining the possibility of raising the income threshold under which pensioners qualify for the payment. The current threshold stands at £11,500, a figure many MPs and campaigners have argued is out of step with the realities of rising living costs.

 

Starmer’s reversal marks a rare early concession by the new Labour government, underscoring both the political risks of austerity-era reforms and the continuing economic pressures faced by pensioners across the UK.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-22

 

 

[The Cyclist]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

and the continuing economic pressures faced by pensioners across the UK.

 

Nothing to do with economic pressures on pensioners across the UK

 

😀😀😀

 

Amazing what losing 70% of your council seats that were contested will do.

 

Amazing what the rise of Reform will do.

 

Both Labour and the Tories are finished for at least a few GE Cycles.

 

You are both reaping what you sowed.

[JonnyF]

First the Enoch speech, now backing down on the granny freezing.

 

Those local elections have clearly spooked this 'orrible little man. 

 

Unfortunately, the damage is done. 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

First the Enoch speech, now backing down on the granny freezing.

 

Those local elections have clearly spooked this 'orrible little man. 

 

Unfortunately, the damage is done. 

No Grannies froze.

 

 

He hasn’t backed down, he’s simply raised the means tested cut-off.

 

Former colleagues of mine retired on cumulative pensions of over twice the UK median wage will still my get the winter fuel allowance, nor should they.

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No Grannies froze.

 

 

He hasn’t backed down, he’s simply raised the means tested cut-off.

 

Former colleagues of mine retired on cumulative pensions of over twice the UK median wage will still my get the winter fuel allowance, nor should they.

 

 

How do you know? Can you provide a link on that claim? You have special access to ONS figures that the general public doesn't on excess winter mortality for the period in question?

[Chomper Higgot]

13 hours ago, JonnyF said:

First the Enoch speech, now backing down on the granny freezing.

 

Those local elections have clearly spooked this 'orrible little man. 

 

Unfortunately, the damage is done. 

Jonny, you’ve claimed granny freezing.

 

Do you have evidence that this actually happened?

 

[Bkk Brian]

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Jonny, you’ve claimed granny freezing.

 

Do you have evidence that this actually happened?

 

Yes plenty, 1000's of elderly die each year because of the cold. The question you should be asking is how many were there because of the policy instead of making unsubstantiated claims. Labour did its own research and came up with a figure, remember?

 

New ONS figures reveal cold homes death toll

https://www.nea.org.uk/news/271120-01/

 

Winter deaths
 2.5 million avoidable deaths over the last 60 years
 Every winter in England and Wales one older person dies every seven minutes
from the cold
 November 2015 ONS figures show that over the winter of 2014/15 there were a
staggering 40,800 excess winter deaths among the over 65s from cold-related
illness

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/age_uk_excess_winter_deaths_briefing_june_2016.pdf

 

4,950 excess winter deaths caused by cold homes last winter

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/4950-excess-winter-deaths-caused-by-cold-homes-last-winter/

 

Now back to your claim:

 

"No Grannies froze."

[Chomper Higgot]

I understand the excess deaths amongst the over 65s in the winter following the Labour’s implementation of means testing winter fuels allowance were in the order of 4,950.

 

This is a staggering reduction of 87.8% from the appalling 40,800 deaths that occurred in the winter of 2014/2015 under the Tory Administration.

I look forward to anyone producing evidence that the means testing of winter fuels allowances caused any of those 4,950 excess deaths while cautioning against relying on correlation as causation, lest the staggering difference in excess deaths amongst pensioners under each government takes us off topic.

 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/age_uk_excess_winter_deaths_briefing_june_2016.pdf
 

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/4950-excess-winter-deaths-caused-by-cold-homes-last-winter/

 

[Bkk Brian]

15 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I understand the excess deaths amongst the over 65s in the winter following the Labour’s implementation of means testing winter fuels allowance were in the order of 4,950.

 

This is a staggering reduction of 87.8% from the appalling 40,800 deaths that occurred in the winter of 2014/2015 under the Tory Administration.

I look forward to anyone producing evidence that the means testing of winter fuels allowances caused any of those 4,950 excess deaths while cautioning against relying on correlation as causation, lest the staggering difference in excess deaths amongst pensioners under each government takes us off topic.

 

 

So your now confirming that you made things up and there were deaths. Great. I won't wait for an apology to the previous false claims you made.

 

Can you provide a link to your new claim there were 4,950 in the winter following the Labour’s implementation of means testing.

[Red Forever]

11 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Yes plenty, 1000's of elderly die each year because of the cold. The question you should be asking is how many were there because of the policy instead of making unsubstantiated claims. Labour did its own research and came up with a figure, remember?

 

New ONS figures reveal cold homes death toll

https://www.nea.org.uk/news/271120-01/

 

Winter deaths
 2.5 million avoidable deaths over the last 60 years
 Every winter in England and Wales one older person dies every seven minutes
from the cold
 November 2015 ONS figures show that over the winter of 2014/15 there were a
staggering 40,800 excess winter deaths among the over 65s from cold-related
illness

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/age_uk_excess_winter_deaths_briefing_june_2016.pdf

 

4,950 excess winter deaths caused by cold homes last winter

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/4950-excess-winter-deaths-caused-by-cold-homes-last-winter/

 

Now back to your claim:

 

"No Grannies froze."

Your “staggering “ statistics refer to a period when WFA was given to all pensioners when 40,800 pensioners died from the cold in 2014/2015.

Fast forward to last winter when 4950 deaths were attributed to the cold yet the pensioners ( mostly) didn’t receive WFA.

Hmm…..global warming is real.

[Bkk Brian]

11 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

Your “staggering “ statistics refer to a period when WFA was given to all pensioners when 40,800 pensioners died from the cold in 2014/2015.

Fast forward to last winter when 4950 deaths were attributed to the cold yet the pensioners ( mostly) didn’t receive WFA.

Hmm…..global warming is real.

You need to read who I was responding to and why before making an irrelevant response

[Chomper Higgot]

I’m still waiting for anyone to produce evidence of the means testing of winter fuels allowance resulting in any old age pensioner dying of cold.

 

40,800 deaths in the winter of 2014/15 compared to 4,950 in the winter following g the introduction of means testing of the winter fuels allowance a reduction in excess mortality of 87.8%.

 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/age_uk_excess_winter_deaths_briefing_june_2016.pdf
 

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/4950-excess-winter-deaths-caused-by-cold-homes-last-winter/

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m still waiting for anyone to produce evidence of the means testing of winter fuels allowance resulting in any old age pensioner dying of cold.

 

 

What evidence would be sufficient for you?

 

A doctors note stating that if the heating had been on that night the person would have survived, with a corresponding statement under oath from a family member stating that the victim had messaged them 10 minutes beforehand to say that the reason they didn't put the heating on was solely due to the fuel allowance being stopped?

 

Presumably you would need this for every case before +1 could be added to the figures?

 

Bottom line is this. Labour themselves estimated 4500+ deaths from doing this. And still did it. Now they are reversing it. You work it out Chomps. Labour are bereft of compassion and morality, as are their supporters. 

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/winter-fuel-payment-cut-labour-deaths-b2609340.html

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

What evidence would be sufficient for you?

 

A doctors note stating that if the heating had been on that night the person would have survived, with a corresponding statement under oath from a family member stating that the victim had messaged them 10 minutes beforehand to say that the reason they didn't put the heating on was solely due to the fuel allowance being stopped?

 

Presumably you would need this for every case before +1 could be added to the figures?

 

Bottom line is this. Labour themselves estimated 4500+ deaths from doing this. And still did it. Now they are reversing it. You work it out Chomps. Labour are bereft of compassion and morality, as are their supporters. 

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/winter-fuel-payment-cut-labour-deaths-b2609340.html

There you go again with your reference to an estimate that was based upon completely different energy prices.

But answer your question, if you make the assertion of deaths as a result of the means testing of the winter fuels payments it’s for you to produce the evidence.

 

Interestingly senior Tory with ambitions for leadership Robert Jenrick was asked multiple times on Sky TV if a future Tory Government would abolish the means testing of the winter fuel allowance. He slid around like a wet bar of soap trying to avoid giving an answer.

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/wilfred-frost-challenges-robert-jenrick-on-winter-fuel-plan_uk_682ed91ae4b0ef574bf5831c/

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There you go again with your reference to an estimate that was based upon completely different energy prices.

 

 

 

How much did energy prices decrease after Labour's estimate of 4500 deaths? Because we all know that energy prices have been tumbling in the last few years 😃.

 

These energy price reductions must have been massive to have reduced the number of excess deaths from 4500 to a level that Labour considered acceptable (by their own estimates).

 

Or maybe like you they just didn't give a toss about the pensioners?

 

 

 

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m still waiting for anyone to produce evidence of the means testing of winter fuels allowance resulting in any old age pensioner dying of cold.

 

40,800 deaths in the winter of 2014/15 compared to 4,950 in the winter following g the introduction of means testing of the winter fuels allowance a reduction in excess mortality of 87.8%.

 

 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/age_uk_excess_winter_deaths_briefing_june_2016.pdf
 

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/4950-excess-winter-deaths-caused-by-cold-homes-last-winter/

 

 

 

You need to get your facts straight and stop spreading misinformation, that figure of 4,950 deaths is from  2022/23 not as you again falsely claimed the winter following the  introduction of means testing of the winter fuels allowance.

 

You just cant help yourself can you.