Winter fuel cut ‘to have serious consequences’ in Northern Ireland

The UK government is coming under pressure to row back on its plan, but the prime minister has insisted tough financial choices cannot be avoided.

Speaking in the assembly on Tuesday, Mr Lyons said the move was “totally unexpected” from the government and urged Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider.

“It was not mooted by the government before now, it was not part of their manifesto and indeed, only a few months ago when the prime minister was leader of the opposition, he said that the Winter Fuel Payment should be maintained,” he said.

“Therefore, it came as a surprise to us all, that the government would announce the removal of this important benefit and I can confirm that my department was given no prior notice of the planned change.”

He added that “anyone saying this is about taking away a benefit from the richest in our society, they’ve got that wrong – over 80% of those who are currently entitled to a winter fuel payment will lose it”.

“That inevitably means they are those on the edges and the fringes who are going to be very deeply affected by this decision,” the minister continued.

Mr Lyons added that the estimated additional cost of Stormont maintaining the payments, without help from Westminster, was £44.3m for 2024/25.