Fiona Bruce asks 7 instances for straight reply on winter gas u-turn | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds was left red-faced when Question Time host requested him seven instances when the Government would perform its Winter Fuel Allowance u-turn – and he was unable to reply. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has introduced that extra pensioner will obtain winter gas funds of as much as £300, after the choice to introduce means-testing contributed to Labour’s enormous defeat in native elections on May 1.

But the Prime Minister has not revealed what the brand new threshold might be, that means that thousands and thousands of pensioners nonetheless don’t know whether or not they’ll get the fee. And he hasn’t stated when the change will come into impact, which implies pensioners might need to endure one other chilly winter earlier than the change comes into drive.

Winter gas funds used to go to each pensioner however Chancellor Rachel Reeves launched means-testing in order that now solely the very poorest get the instructed the Question Time viewers: “After the local elections the Prime Minister said ‘I get it’”. This is why extra pensioners will now obtain the cash, he stated.

But Ms Bruce instructed him pensioners have been now asking: “Am I going to get my winter fuel allowance then, and when will I get it?”

When the Labour Minister did not reply, she tried once more, saying: “When will people know whether or not they are going to get their winter fuel allowance?”

Mr Thomas-Symonds failed to offer any particulars, so Ms Bruce identified that former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown had intervened. She stated: “Gordon Brown said Keir Starmer will not wait until the October Budget, that would be too late. Is he right?”

When Mr Thomas-Symonds failed to call a date she tried once more, asking: “Is he right about that? Will people know before the October Budget?”

Mr Thomas-Symonds stated: “We will make sure that we are identifying where the money is coming from ….”

But Ms Bruce interrupted, saying: “That is not what I’m asking you. Will people know before the October budget?”

At this level the Labour Minister started speaking about former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss. He stated: “We’ve seen the effects before of trying to make spending pledges, Liz Truss did this, without saying where the money is coming from …”

Ms Bruce requested him: “So that means before the October budget then doesn’t it?”

Mr Thomas-Symonds instructed her: “It will be announced at a fiscal event”.

At this level Ms Bruce requested concerning the Spending Review deliberate in June. She stated: “So June, then?”

But Mr Thomas-Symonds replied: “No, June is not a fiscal event. We will announce it at a fiscal event. We want to move as quickly as we can as the economy improves.”

The Question Time host then gave up and the Labour Minister by no means did reveal when extra particulars concerning the u-turn might be made clear.

There was open frustration in Labour ranks after Keir Starmer’s MPs have been ordered to defend the coverage for months, just for the Prime Minister to announce modifications following disastrous native election outcomes on May 1.

Cat Eccles, a Labour MP first elected in 2024, stated she raised considerations privately with the Chancellor final yr. She instructed Times Radio: “It’s only now or down the line after we’ve had those local election results that all of a sudden, they’re all ears to their MPs.”

She added: “Why have we just been put through this drama for the last nine months?”

Backbenchers fearful about different insurance policies reminiscent of cuts to incapacity advantages are actually stepping up requires extra u-turns.

Left-winger Ian Lavery, a former Labour Party Chair, stated: “The government must urgently re-think not only its position on the Winter Fuel Allowance but its entire direction of travel.”

And Diane Abbott, one other left-wing MP, stated: “The Labour leadership should review other planned cuts. They are an attack on the most vulnerable and they damage Labour too.”

Announcing the change of course on Wednesday, Si Keir stated he understood “that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, including pensioners”.

He added: “As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.”