Keir Starmer confirms U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts
Keir Starmer has confirmed that his government will loosen the eligibility rules for winter fuel payments to pensioners after a backlash against the decision to means test the benefit.
Speaking at prime minister’s questions, Starmer said that more pensioners would be eligible for the payment.
The cost of the , partially?, restored winter fuel allowance is probably dwarfed by the cost of the Civil Service contortions necessary to keep abreast of these multiple about turns.
ReplyDeleteYes Minister, and The Thick Of It, where art you now. Or is there a Super Injunction in place?
Don't believe a word he says now.
ReplyDelete'political' expediency needs lies at every turn, and this will be one of them.
Doonhamer - the Civil Service probably likes a few contortions because they can play the games Sir Humphrey taught them so well.
ReplyDeleteScrobs - that's the problem and he created it, nothing he says can be taken as reliable.
ReplyDeleteThere’s a serious point here, which is that if it’s so difficult (near-impossible in fact) to carry through such a modest and unambitious change, there is little or no chance that any significant reduction in entitlements can be achieved, except perhaps by the IMF. Interesting times.
ReplyDeleteGuido provides a handy list of all the times the Cabinet have said why such a policy reversal would be totally impossible. My favourite is Lucy Powell, who said that to do so would lead to a run on the pound, and the economy crashing.
ReplyDeleteLet's see...
Peter - yes it is a serious point, as if the winter fuel payment debacle was an attempt to test the political water and it didn't work.
ReplyDeleteSam - oh dear, Lucy Powell isn't there because she's smart is she?
But, dear Blogger, none of them appear to have any brains at all. Is it the dimmest cabinet in British history?
Deletedearieme - yes it must be the dimmest cabinet in British history, nobody would even volunteer to try teaching them anything.
ReplyDelete