Keir stands firm & refuses to budge on loathed Winter Fuel Payment cuts – everything you need to know

SIR Keir Starmer is standing firm fending off declaring he won’t be “blown off course” amid pressure to soften the winter fuel allowance crackdown.

The Prime Minister refuses to budge in taking the £300 OAP benefit off ten million pensioners – but it appeared the issue was still being discussed at the top of government.

The PM’s press secretary said: “We were elected as a stable and serious party after 14 years of chaos and decline.”

He added: “We won’t be blown off course and it’s that mindset and focus that has allowed us to make the progress we have.”

A re-think appeared to be on the cards following Labour’s election drubbing including losing the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by six votes.

But Number 10 today said there will not be a change to the government’s policy.

They said the initial decision was “difficult” but taken to bring about economic stability and restore the public finances.

Downing Street also pointed to an expected £1,900 increase in the state pension over the course of the Parliament to aid OAPs.

Earlier, Health Secretary Wes Streeting appeared to open the door for the government to soften its position on the OAP benefit crackdown.

His intervention follows a growing backlash following the party’s dismal display last week losing the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform.

Ten million pensioners lost £300 after the policy was means-tested for the elderly in one of the first major decisions by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Mr Streeting insisted that he was not aware of any talks taking place in government but told Sky News that Ministers were “always listening”.

He outlined how he wouldn’t be close to such discussions ahead of June’s spending review and the Budget in the Autumn.

But Mr Streeting said: “But what I do want to reassure people is that in terms of last Thursday’s local election results, we have noticed, we have got the message.”

“What voters are telling us is that unless they see the change that was promised delivered, unless they feel the change in their lives, they will look for change elsewhere.

“And that’s why the Prime Minister is pushing all of us in government to go further and faster at delivering the results that the country wants.”

It follows reports in The Guardian saying Number 10 were having a re-think of the controversial policy but they denied they were reviewing any such policy.

Mr Streeting also told BBC Breakfast that the winter fuel issue came up repeatedly when out canvassing during the elections.

He said: “I’m not going to insult your viewers by pretending that winter fuel didn’t come up on the doorstep. Of course it did.

“And I know that people aren’t happy about winter fuel allowance in lots of cases. We did protect it for the poorest pensioners, but there are lots of people saying they disagree with it regardless.”

The Winter Fuel Payment was previously available to everyone aged at least 66 – the current state pension age.

But in July last year, the Government announced the payment would become means-tested, meaning only those on certain benefits are eligible, with 10million households set to miss out this winter.

People on Income Support, Tax Credits and Universal Credit, as well as Pension Credit, remain eligible for the payment.