Labour’s bruising losses in the local elections, down 187 councillors, have triggered a wave of finger-pointing behind closed doors, and it looks like the party’s scrapping of the Winter Fuel Allowance is taking the bulk of the blame.
The benefit, worth around £1.5 billion, was axed last July by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and insiders now say it’s haunting the party hard. Reform UK managed to sweep up votes in areas Labour should’ve comfortably won, especially this far into the parliamentary cycle. Now, the backlash is real — and growing.
According to Guido, Labour MPs are in full panic mode. Many have been privately pressing No 10 to reverse the decision, with one source describing the number of MPs calling for a rethink as “significant.” The issue, it seems, is turning into a major headache not just for Reeves but for Starmer’s wider team.
To make matters worse, reports last week suggested that a dramatic U-turn might actually be on the cards. The Guardian sparked fresh drama after claiming Downing Street was “rethinking its controversial winter fuel payment cut” due to rising internal pressure and fears of “serious electoral damage.” The BBC picked up the story too, adding fuel to the already raging fire within the party.
Now, Reeves’ team is reportedly fuming. They believe No 10 itself might’ve been behind the leaks suggesting the policy reversal — a move that’s left the Shadow Chancellor and her allies feeling completely undermined. One insider even told Guido that Reeves may not survive politically if there’s a climbdown on the benefit cut.
In typical Labour fashion, some are now mulling whether a U-turn could actually work to their advantage. Could Starmer use it as an opportunity to dump a deeply unpopular policy and shake up his top team? Whispers suggest it wouldn’t take much for Starmer to push Reeves out if it helps steady the electoral ship.
As the fallout continues, one thing’s clear — Labour’s gamble on axing winter fuel support has backfired badly. With councils lost, Reform on the rise, and backbenchers in open revolt, the pressure on the party’s leadership is reaching a boiling point. Whether Reeves can hold on much longer is anyone’s guess — but for now, the internal drama shows no sign of cooling off.
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