Political reporter

SIR KEIR STARMER was forced into a major policy U-turn on Wednesday as he indicated that his hated cuts to winter fuel benefit for pensioners may be reversed.

The PM told MPs that he wanted to ensure more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments as he recognises that many are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis.

What exactly this means will only become clear in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget, but it looks likely that the threshold for claiming the benefit will be lowered at the very least.

The move follows overwhelming evidence that the cut, announced by Ms Reeves last year, has been disastrous for Labour’s popularity.

Back-bench MPs report it was raised constantly on the doorstep before this month’s local elections, contributed mightily to Labour’s enormous losses in council chambers and the Runcorn parliamentary by-election.

However, there is no sign of a change of course in relation to the big cuts to disability benefits unveiled by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall in order to fund increased arms spending.

Ms Kendall doubled down even as hundreds of disability campaigners thronged Westminster Hall yesterday to lobby their MPs against the plans.

The lobby, mobilised by a range of campaign groups including Coalition Against Benefit Cuts, Disabled People Against Cuts and Disability Rights UK, impressed many MPs with the strength of feeling expressed.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: ”At long last ministers seem to have listened.

“Removing the winter fuel allowance from hard-pressed pensioners was never a great idea.

“Ministers now need to look again at their unpalatable welfare cuts.

“The Chancellor should revise her fiscal rules so the government can reinstate the winter fuel allowance, row back on its unpopular welfare cuts and invest in the UK’s damaged public services.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called for the winter fuel cuts to be fully reversed and money found by a wealth tax on the super-rich instead.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “The cut to the winter fuel payment last year was a wrong decision, and PCS was proud to lead the opposition to it.

“We need to see the detail, but we hope the government will U-turn in full and restore the winter fuel payment as a universal benefit.

“If the government has seen sense on pensioners’ benefits, it must also U-turn on its proposed cuts to disability benefits which would send hundreds of thousands of households into deeper poverty.”