CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed reports of an upcoming government U-turn on winter fuel payments, urging ministers to learn lessons from their “scandalous decision.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is said to be poised to reverse the much criticised reforms, which stripped 10 million pensioners of the payment, as early as June.

He recently refused to rule out making more people eligible for the allowance after the decision to means-test the benefit became a key issue during last month’s local elections, which saw sweeping victories for Reform UK.

Ministers are reportedly considering whether to give more pensioners the allowance by raising the £11,500 income cutoff  or by reversing it altogether ahead of a potential backbench rebellion over disability benefit cuts next month.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said: “Any U-turn is welcome, but what matters now is the detail, especially if winter fuel payments are not restored to all pensioners.

“There are three tests we will apply to any announcement based on thresholds, tapers and wider targeting to see if ministers are getting the message.

“We need to see the pension credit threshold raised significantly; a taper system introduced to stop people missing out on winter fuel payments for being just £1 over the line; and wider targeting of this support, including for those on non-means tested disability benefits or carer’s allowance.

“Above all, ministers must learn lessons from this scandalous decision. Sadly, there are rumours that the Chancellor is planning to water down the warm homes plan promised in the Labour manifesto and reduce the £13.2 billion promised to it.

“Any dilution of the proposals will mean fewer older people can be helped to reduce their energy use in a safe way.”

Number 10 is facing a potential backbench rebellion next month when disability benefit cuts are voted on in the Commons.

More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a letter raising their concerns about the cuts.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We had to take tough-but-right decisions in the Budget to stabilise the economy after years of damage and decline.

“As a result of what we’ve done, [we have] got record investment into the NHS, which is bringing down waiting lists and delivering three million extra appointments in the first 10 months of a Labour government, with four interest rate cuts and growth figures of 0.7 per cent.”