Keir Starmer's winter fuel 'panic' exposed as PM warned 'voters won't buy it'

Sir Keir Starmer's are being decided by "panic" and Britons will not be covinced by it, a MP has fumed, after the Prime Minister confirmed this afternoon that his government would be on its winter fuel stance. Ministers had cut the number of pensioners who were eligible for the benefit, but now this will be watered down, and more recipients will once again get the cash. James McMurdock, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, told the Express: "A U-turn on winter fuel will be welcomed by the vulnerable people last year left to choose between heating and eating.

"Elderly people shouldn't have been put through that unnecessary anguish in the first place It speaks volumes about Starmer's leadership: he doesn't govern from principle, he governs from panic. The voters won't buy it. They know it's a political U-turn and not a principled decision."

Starmer's stepdown represents a huge victory for to reverse Labour's cruel stance.

The PM's spokesperson could not provide a date of when exactly this tweak will be enacted, nor whether pensioners will get the money this winter when questioned by reporters.

In fact, Sir Keir's official spokesman was unable to give details neither about how the government would deliver on the promise, nor how many pensioners would benefit.

When asked if the changes would be in place this coming winter, they said: "We obviously want to deliver this as quickly as possible, but the Prime Minister was very clear in the House that this has to be done in an affordable way, in a funded way, and that's why those decisions will be taken at a future fiscal event."

Sir Keir told MPs during PMQs: "I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, including pensioners."

"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."

He added that the government will "only make decisions we can afford" and will therefore look at this as part of a "fiscal event".

This suggests a change will not be announced before the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves' autumn budget.