Labour’s biggest mistake during their first in power has been cutting winter fuel payments, according to new polling. Members of the public were asked by More in Common to say in their own words what the Government’s biggest failure has been a year on from the general election.
A word cloud shows “winter fuel allowance” as the overwhelming answer from respondents. Other words that can be seen are “immigration, “benefits”, “cuts” and “welfare”.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer performed a U-turn on scrapping winter fuel payments for most pensioners following an ongoing backlash.
The move to restrict the previously universal allowance to only OAPs on pension credit was one of Labour’s first acts after taking power in July last year.
Ministers blamed a £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they denied.
But it sparked widespread condemnation from charities, unions and opposition parties and warnings that older people would be forced to choose between heating and eating.
In a partial U-turn last month, it was announced that the allowance worth up to £300 a year would be restored to pensioners with an income less than £35,000 a year.
The Prime Minister insisted that the Government made its reversal on the winter fuel allowance because the economy has stabilised, rather than in response to the fierce backlash against the policy.
More in Common polled 2,030 people between June 27-30.