A rowback on the controversial cuts to winter fuel payments was not being denied by Cabinet minister Wes Streeting.
The Health Secretary said there was no “formal review” under way in Whitehall.
But asked about reports that the Government will change the policy, he stopped short of ruling this out, saying: “Not that I’m aware of. I wouldn’t at this stage be close to those discussions. They’re normally matters for Budgets and spending reviews.”
Pressed on Times Radio whether ministers needed to review the cuts, he added: “We’ve had a lot of opposition from the opposition parties to all of these measures. But they welcome the investment that it pays for in our NHS, in our schools, in other public services. And you can’t have one without the other.”
He added: “Sometimes you do in government have to make unpopular decisions in pursuit of the outcomes you want to see. And we’ve made unpopular decisions knowing they might be unpopular because we genuinely believe they were the right decisions for the country.”
But restricting winter fuel payments to pensioners on pension credit, or similar benefit levels, is being blamed as a key factor in Labour’s dismal local elections results and losing the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform.
The Guardian reported that the Government is considering whether to increase the threshold of £11,500 over which pensioners were no longer eligible for the allowance.
A Cabinet minister told the newspaper: “It comes up on the doorstep all the time. Winter fuel will lose us the next election, it was a terrible mistake. But it’s probably too late for a U-turn now.”
Appearing on the media round for the Government, Mr Streeting admitted the fuel payment cuts were a “massive issue” on the doorstep during the May 1 elections which saw Reform gain 677 council seats, the Tories lose 674 to end up on 319, Labour losing 187 to finish with 98, the Liberal Democrats gaining 163 to a total of 370, and the Greens increasing their number by 44 to 79.
Downing Street played down the prospects of a rowback which would be a major admission of a blunder by Chancellor Rachel Reeves if if did happen.
“Downing Street have been very clear that there is no change planned,” the Health Secretary added, while stopping short of himself repeating this line.
Speaking on the BBC, he said: “There isn’t a formal review or anything like that going on. I do know that. But look, we are reflecting on what the voters told us last Thursday at the ballot box.”
Shortly after taking power last July, the Government said future winter fuel payments in England and Wales would go only to those on low incomes who received specified benefits such as pension credit.
The controversial reform meant more than 10 million pensioners did not receive a payment for winter 2024.
