‘Cack-Handed’: Laura Kuenssberg Slams Labour’s U-Turn Over Winter Fuel Payments

The BBC’sLaura Kuenssberg tore into Angela Rayner and her colleagues this morning over their handling of their U-turn over winter fuel payments.

Labour stripped around 10 million pensioners of their winter fuel allowances in its Autumn Budget.

The move sparked significant backlash, including from Labour backbenchers.

Prime minister Keir Starmer then announced this week that he wants to make sure more people will be eligible for the lump sum.

However, he has insisted that this can only happen when the economy is doing well enough – despite calls for him to U-turn sooner rather than later.

On Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg this morning, the BBC presenter asked the deputy prime minister if the government would restore winter fuel to every pensioner if they have enough money.

Rayner replied that it depends on the state of the economy, and would only be announced as a fiscal event. 

The BBC presenter pushed: “Can you guarantee that it will be done – whatever it is – whether you bring it into income tax for wealthier pensioners, or whether or not you set the threshold in a different place, can you guarantee to people watching – who really want to know whether or not they’re going to get their money – if it will done in time for this winter?”

Rayner said she could not announce that during an interview.

“You can’t even say it would be done in time for this winter? Isn’t this a bit cack-handed?” Kuenssberg noted.

“We have had Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves and you for months sticking to the collective line, saying, ’we are not going to change it, we are sticking to it.′

“This week, the prime minister says, ’oh actually we’re not sticking to it, but we’re not going to tell you for months who is going to get it back and when it’s going to happen.

“What we did, we had to do to secure the finances of this country,” Rayner replied, pointing to the alleged £22 billion black hole the Tories left behind in the public finances.

“Now the economy is showing signs of improvement, we’ve had the interest rates cuts, we’re the fastest growing economy in the G7, the prime minister has indicated that he would like to see movement on this.”

She said that the government was therefore being “very clear on the direction of travel”.

But Kuenssberg pointed out that still meant people might have to wait for months to get any clarity on what is going on this winter.

The Liberal Democrats also criticised the government’s slow response.

Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “Millions of pensioners were plunged into uncertainty and financial turmoil last winter by the government’s callous decision to strip Winter Fuel Payments. They deserve clarity, not continued confusion and mixed messaging from the top. 

“The Government needs to accept that this policy was doomed from the start and complete what is becoming the world’s slowest u-turn.”