Labour 'is reviewing its winter fuel payment' after Reform surge in local elections
6 May 2025, 09:27 | Updated: 6 May 2025, 13:50
Downing Street is considering a review of winter fuel payments after Labour face pressure to restore public faith after the local elections saw Reform UK make major gains across England.
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Senior figures in Sir Keir Starmer's circles have been reportedly rethinking the winter fuel payment policy.
Sources at Downing Street are allegedly exploring the option of increasing the £11,500 income cap which is currently set for the payment.
One minister told The Guardian: "It comes up on the doorstep all the time. Winter fuel will lose us the next election, it was a terrible mistake. But it's probably too late for a U-turn now."
This comes as Sir Keir faces pressure to reverse his party's fortunes after the local elections saw Reform UK make major gains across England.
Nigel Farage hailed the results as "the end of two-party politics" and "the death of the Conservative Party" as Reform picked up ten councils and more than 600 seats in Thursday's poll.
Labour lost 180 council seats and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election - one of their safest seats.
Rachel Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, told LBC: "This policy has had serious consequences and I certainly have met constituents who have been wrapped in duvets and blankets as they come to their door feeling the cold this winter."
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Another source told the newspaper: "People are saying we haven't done enough for them on the cost of living, and winter fuel is an example of it going in the wrong direction."
A second said: "The winter fuel cut has become totemic and talks to us being on the wrong side of working people. We need to show that's not the case."
Ms Maskell continued: "Therefore it's absolutely crucial that not only is the threshold increased, because we know that many pensioners miss out on pension credit because of the low threshold, but also we restore winter fuel payments for those that need it."
"This will have a devastating impact on our communities." she added.
"Labour Party's got a special responsibility to protect those people who are in poverty. It's why we were formed. It worked to speak up for those communities who had no agency, but also to ensure that they are protected for the long term."
"It is about the culture and the way in which decisions are making winter fuel fuel payments taken without consulting older people, disabled people, not being consulted over the changes to PIP and universal credit. This taking away people's agency and voice"
Ian Byrne, the MP for Liverpool West Derby, told LBC's Natasha Devon that it would be "unforgivable" not to adapt after the elections.
Mr Byrne, who is on the left of the party, said Sir Keir Starmer's pledge after the results to go "further and faster" on Labour's current trajectories was "tin-eared".
"I think if you don't take on board what's happened over this week, then you're doing the Labour Party and the country a disservice," he said.
Mr Byrne said the government had made some good achievements, but they had been "drowned out" by controversial decisions such as the winter fuel allowance cut.
"That's caused seething anger," he said.
Mr Byrne said the election results were not an "early shot" at Sir Keir's government, which was elected less than a year ago.
"It's a torpedo that has been sent from the country to the government to stop, reflect and change course and do something totally different."
A Downing Street source told The Telegraph that the report was "incorrect and the policy would not be reviewed".
Downing Street has ruled out a U-turn on means testing the winter fuel payment.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The policy is set out, there will not be a change to the Government’s policy.”
He added that the decision “was one that we had to take to ensure economic stability and repair the public finances following the £22 billion black hole left by the previous government”.
He said an expected £1,900 increase in the state pension over the course of the Parliament and an extension to the household support fund were ways the Government was supporting pensioners.
