Fuel Payment Cuts Leave Millions in the Cold: No Impact Assessment Done, Starmer Reveals

Winter fuel allowances: Sir Keir Starmer claims no evaluation has been conducted

The Conservative Party has been urging the government to release an evaluation report on the proposal that will decrease the number of beneficiaries from approximately 10.8 million last winter to roughly 1.5 million this year.

Friday, September 13, 2024, 6:

Keir Starmer has stated that no evaluation has been conducted on the effects that removing winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners will have.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have opted to implement means testing for payments, which can amount to as much as £300, as a strategy to address a £22 billion deficit in the government's budget.

When asked if an impact assessment would be released, Sir Keir, who was en route to Washington DC with journalists, clarified, "There's no existing report sitting on my desk that we are withholding, or that I am withholding. It's as straightforward as that."

He further stated that the government was under no legal obligation to create one.

Discover more: The initial favorable period for Starmer has definitively ended. The government insists on maintaining the reductions to winter fuel allowances without compromises.

A spokeswoman from Downing Street mentioned that while some statistical analysis has been conducted, there has been no assessment regarding the effects of the change on vulnerable pensioners.

The spokeswoman emphasized that it was legally required to examine the "equality implications" of any policy changes, ensuring that factors like age and gender among beneficiaries of winter fuel payments were properly assessed through standard procedures.

Further Details on Rishi Sunak

Educator Exonerated for Displaying Sunak and Braverman on Coconut Sign at Demonstration

Court is told that a demonstrator's sign featuring Sunak and Braverman was deemed 'racially offensive'

Diane Abbott criticizes the Conservatives for merely pretending to combat racism following a scandal involving a donor who contributed £5 million.

Associated Subjects:

It's recommended to utilize the Chrome browser for an enhanced video player experience.

When questioned about the necessity of conducting an evaluation to determine if the change could harm elderly individuals, the spokeswoman stated, "The government is committed to making sure that the most vulnerable who need support are getting it, which is why there is a significant push to transition people onto pension credit."

"Additionally, we encourage individuals to seek out the broader assistance available, particularly aimed at supporting the most vulnerable."

Stay updated with current events from the UK and globally by tuning into Sky News.

The Tories have been pushing the government to release an evaluation of its proposal, which is set to decrease the number of beneficiaries from roughly 10.8 million the previous winter to around 1.5 million this year.

At Wednesday's session of Prime Minister's Questions, opposition leader Rishi Sunak twice queried Sir Keir about whether he would release an analysis of the policy's effects.

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Mr. Sunak stated, "Pensioners observing today would have noticed that the prime minister has consistently declined to acknowledge or disclose the implications of his actions, and we will persist in calling him out on this."

The prime minister leveled accusations against the Conservative leader, stating he showed "no remorse or accountability for the financial abyss, the deteriorated state of the NHS, the prison debacle, and the destructive results of 14 years of mismanagement."

Associated Subjects

Footer of Sky News

Information about Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels on Sky

Additional Sky Websites