UK HEALTH SECRETARY BACKS STARMER’S WINTER FUEL CUTS DECISION- Streeting said the winter fuel payment cuts allowed Labour to invest in the NHS
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to cut the pensioners’ winter fuel payments.
Streeting stated that the winter cuts have been invested in the NHS and also used to upgrade state schools in the UK.
Several labour supporters called for a reversal of the cuts after the local election results came in on Friday. The Labour government projects that the winter fuel cuts, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will result in savings of approximately £1.5bn. However, these cuts are feared to push more than 100,000 pensioners into poverty.
Downing Street is reportedly reconsidering the cuts due to concerns that predict costing Labour the next general election, with officials considering raising the threshold over which pensioners are no longer eligible for the allowance.
