Today we witnessed a new low for our increasingly desperate and embattled Prime Minister. But Keir Starmer’s latest U-turn will do nothing to change the doom loop he has set in motion.
He made a political choice to cut winter fuel payments. We said from the start that this choice was wrong, but they would not listen. Even though they have eventually bowed to political pressure placed by this paper and Conservatives, they owe the country an apology. Despite today’s humiliating climbdown, a record for a new government, this rushed reversal raises as many questions as it answers.
It underscores that this is a Labour government without a plan, riding by the seat of its pants and lurching from one disaster to the next.
Much like many other empty pledges, they have not said how they would pay for it. In a bid to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes yet again, the Treasury has said this will not lead to ‘permanent additional borrowing’.
But if you read between the lines, that suggests it will be paid for by permanent additional taxes – already at a record high.
Just this weekend, Cabinet Minister Peter Kyle was sent out to bat for the Government who said changes to Winter Fuel Payment will be dealt with in the Autumn Budget.
But even that was yet another piecrust promise – easily made and easily broken – from a government that has had more than its fill.
After 14 years of solidly rising living standards for pensioners delivered by the Conservatives, we are all getting a sharp reminder of what Labour governments are capable of.
And this one is in a death spiral, becoming weaker with every u-turn.
What is becoming clearer with each passing day is that this is a Labour government which does not know what or who it stands for.
The only thing that you can be sure this government will deliver is broken promises, empty pledges and hollow slogans.
Keir Starmer is about as reliable as a chocolate teapot, and the nation’s pensioners should not ever forget it.