Starmer says he needs ‘extra pensioners’ to get winter gas funds in main U-turn
Sarah Owen (Lab) asks what the federal government will do to assist struggling pensions.
Starmer says the economic system is bettering. Because it improves, the federal government needs to verify folks, together with pensioners, really feel that distinction.
That’s the reason the federal government needs to make sure “extra pensioners” are eligible for winter gas funds.
He says the federal government will take choices on the subsequent fiscal occasion – ie, on the finances within the autumn.
It is a massive U-turn. Two weeks in the past Downing Avenue stated flatly the policy was not changing.
(This was after my colleague Pippa Crerar stated they had been rethinking the coverage. Not for the primary time, Pippa was proper – and what No 10 was saying was fallacious.)
UPDATE: Starmer stated:
I recognise that persons are nonetheless feeling the stress of the cost-of-living disaster together with pensioners. Because the economic system improves, we wish to make sure that folks really feel these enhancements of their days as their lives go ahead. That’s the reason we wish to be certain that as we go ahead extra pensioners are eligible for winter gas funds.
As you’ll count on Mr Speaker, we’ll solely make choices we will afford, that’s the reason we’ll have a look at that as a part of a fiscal occasion.
Key occasions
Andrew Pakes (Lab) asks concerning the betting retailers and vape shops taking up excessive streets. He asks if the federal government will assist communities take again management of those areas.
Starmer says planning legal guidelines can be utilized to guard these areas.
Starmer pays tribute to Cheryl Korbel, whose marketing campaign helped to steer the federal government to vary the legislation to impose new punishments on offenders how refuse to attend courtroom for sentencing. He says he is aware of how necessary that is from his conversations together with her.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem chief, stated Starmer “teased the home” along with his feedback concerning the winter gas funds. Will he decide to reversing these cuts in full?
Starmer repeats what he stated earlier. (See 12.13pm.)
He repeats the purpose about wanting to make sure that “extra pensioners” are eligible.
Davey says he thinks he welcomes this. And he says he hopes carers additionally profit from the enhancements to the economic system.
He asks a couple of household the place a carer takes care of her severely disabled husband and they’re going to lose £12,000 from the cuts.
Starmer says individuals who want assist ought to proceed to get it. However he says the system have to be reformed.
Right here is Starmer’s full touch upon the winter gas cost in his reply to Sarah Owen. He stated:
I recognise that persons are nonetheless feeling the stress of the cost-of-living disaster together with pensioners. Because the economic system improves, we wish to make sure that folks really feel these enhancements of their days as their lives go ahead. That’s the reason we wish to be certain that as we go ahead extra pensioners are eligible for winter gas funds.
As you’ll count on Mr Speaker, we’ll solely make choices we will afford, that’s the reason we’ll have a look at that as a part of a fiscal occasion.
Labour MPs jeer at Badenoch as she asks her closing query. A few of them are laughing. The Speaker has to intervene to ascertain order.
Kemi Badenoch has simply requested if Keir Starmer is planning to U-turn on winter gas funds.
She didn’t appear to understand what Starmer stated earlier.
Starmer says, because the economic system improves, he needs to take a look at the thresholds.
Badenoch claims Starmer can’t give a straight reply to the query.
(Once more, she didn’t appear to understand that he did give a transparent. This a basic instance of somebody not in a position to take sure for a solution.)
Starmer says he needs ‘extra pensioners’ to get winter gas funds in main U-turn
Sarah Owen (Lab) asks what the federal government will do to assist struggling pensions.
Starmer says the economic system is bettering. Because it improves, the federal government needs to verify folks, together with pensioners, really feel that distinction.
That’s the reason the federal government needs to make sure “extra pensioners” are eligible for winter gas funds.
He says the federal government will take choices on the subsequent fiscal occasion – ie, on the finances within the autumn.
It is a massive U-turn. Two weeks in the past Downing Avenue stated flatly the policy was not changing.
(This was after my colleague Pippa Crerar stated they had been rethinking the coverage. Not for the primary time, Pippa was proper – and what No 10 was saying was fallacious.)
UPDATE: Starmer stated:
I recognise that persons are nonetheless feeling the stress of the cost-of-living disaster together with pensioners. Because the economic system improves, we wish to make sure that folks really feel these enhancements of their days as their lives go ahead. That’s the reason we wish to be certain that as we go ahead extra pensioners are eligible for winter gas funds.
As you’ll count on Mr Speaker, we’ll solely make choices we will afford, that’s the reason we’ll have a look at that as a part of a fiscal occasion.
Lewis Cocking (Con) asks when the PM will begin all unlawful immigration into the UK.
Starmer says it was the final authorities that misplaced management of the borders. And the Tories voted towards laws giving border officers extra powers.
Keir Starmer begins by providing his condolences to the households and buddies of the three folks killed within the hearth in Bicester final week. He says the mom of one of many victims is within the gallery.
He says the federal government has achieved its third commerce deal in three weeks. It will enhance folks’s lives, he says.
Paul Lewis, the monetary broadcaster, says, in a post on social media, that he thinks a lot of the Angela Rayner proposals for tax rises (see 9.24am) are wise.
Pension lifetime allowance not wise; there are higher methods to manage exploitation of pension tax aid. However the different measures Rayner urged to Reeves appear very wise and certainly modest. https://bit.ly/4dB1Q4Y Divi allowance minimize by Tories from £5000 to £500
As Chloe Chaplain from the i reports, throughout her Q&A after her speech Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, performed down the impression given by the Angela Rayner memo leak (see 9.24am) that the cupboard is cut up over taxing the rich.
Kendall requested if she agrees with Rayner that as a substitute of reducing spending taxes ought to be elevated on the rich.
Says ‘your complete cupboard backs Rachel’s financial technique’ and provides some folks might have forgotten however ‘we even have raised taxes on a number of the richest’
Kendall requested if she agrees with Rayner that as a substitute of reducing spending taxes ought to be elevated on the rich.
Says ‘your complete cupboard backs Rachel’s financial technique’ and provides some folks might have forgotten however ‘we even have raised taxes on a number of the richest’
— Chloe Chaplain (@ChaplainChloe) May 21, 2025
Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs
Right here is the order paper for PMQs, with the names of MPs all the way down to get a query.
