Keir Starmer Faces Rebellion From 40 Labour MPs Over Winter Fuel Cuts Amid £22 Billion Deficit Talks

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Updated May 9, 2025, 11:11 AM

Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced intense scrutiny during Prime Minister's Questions over his government's decision to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the policy, stating it has left pensioners poorer and colder, and called on Starmer to admit the decision was wrong. Starmer defended the cuts, citing a £22 billion budget deficit and emphasizing the government's priority to stabilize public finances. He also highlighted efforts to reduce energy bills through investments in cheap, clean, homegrown energy and referenced the triple lock on pensions.

Despite internal criticism from Labour MPs and activists, Starmer has resisted calls to reverse the cuts. Concurrently, Starmer's proposed cuts to disability benefits have sparked a rebellion within his own party, with around 40 Labour MPs describing the welfare reforms as "impossible to support" and warning they will push hundreds of thousands of families further into poverty. The MPs have sent a letter demanding a delay in the vote on these reforms, citing concerns about the impact on vulnerable groups, particularly in Labour's "Red Wall" constituencies. Discussions involving senior Labour figures, including Rachel Reeves, are reportedly underway about potentially changing the winter fuel payment policy. The welfare cuts, seen as the largest attack on the welfare state since the George Osborne era, have become a major point of contention within the Labour Party ahead of an expected vote next month.

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#Keir Starmer #Kemi Badenoch #Starmer #Labour #Red Wall #Rachel Reeves #George Osborne #Labour Party

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Sources

bbc.com(4)theguardian.com(3)mirror.co.uk(3)bbc.co.uk(3)

Guido Fawkes

@GuidoFawkes

IN FULL: The Labour MPs Rebelling Against Starmer https://t.co/YWkKlLQI1V https://t.co/PiXesEAcZM

First Squawk

@FirstSquawk

REEVES BEEN INVOLVED IN TALKS ON CHANGING LABOUR'S WINTER FUEL PAYMENT POLICY - YAH

Kevin Schofield

@KevinASchofield

SCOOP: Rachel Reeves has been involved in talks on whether the government should change its policy on winter fuel payments, HuffPost UK has learned. Full story 🔽 https://t.co/uJ5mwoN2dH