Winter fuel U-turn welcomed by Welsh first minister

A UK government U-turn on winter fuel payments for pensioners has been welcomed by Wales’ first minister.

Eluned Morgan had previously called for a “rethink” on the policy which started being means-tested last year.

The prime minister told the Commons on Wednesday that he wanted more pensioners to be eligible for the payment.

Morgan said she was “delighted the prime minister has listened to the concerns I expressed to him”.

She said: “The proposed cuts to the winter fuel payment caused real concern to people across Wales.”

“We are yet to hear the details of the announcement, but I’m hopeful that significantly more people will now benefit from the payment.”

A new plans for the payment is expected in the autumn, most likely at the budget.

Around 400,000 Welsh homes have been affected by the changes to the payment.

The payments of up to £300 had previously been made available to everyone of state pension age.

However, last winter pensioners only received a payment if their income was below £11,500.

The payments are a policy area controlled by the UK government at Westminster.

Plaid Cymru’s work and pensions spokesperson Ann Davies said the prime minister’s comments would offer “little comfort” to pensioners.

She called for cuts to winter fuel payments to be scrapped completely.

“If Labour truly wants to rebuild trust, it must reverse these decisions and abandon the austerity agenda that continues to fail the people of Wales,” she said.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick called for more details and an apology.

“The least those people deserve is an apology for this punitive policy and a serious proposal from the prime minister on how he will begin to pick up the pieces from his government’s disastrous decision.

“Not vague words that will take months to materialise into something meaningful.”

The Welsh Conservatives have been asked to comment.

Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives have called on ministers in Wales to introduce their own winter fuel payment to mitigate the impact of last year’s change.

The first minister has previously ruled that out.

Both parties oppose the cuts to winter fuel payments as do the Liberal Democrats and Reform.