Winter fuel payments to go to 7.5 million more pensioners after major U-turn, Rachel Reeves announces

Evening Standard

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00:00Chancellor, the original Winterfell decision last year may have made sense in your spreadsheets in the Treasury,

00:06but where was your political antennae? It just hasn't survived contact with actual voters.

00:11How did you misjudge the reality of people's pensioners' lives so badly?

00:16I had to make urgent decisions last year to put the public finances back on a firm footing.

00:22We inherited a £22 billion in-year black hole in the public finances.

00:28I was always clear that the number one priority of this government was to return stability to the economy.

00:34We did that with a number of difficult decisions, but because of those decisions, our public finances are now in a better position,

00:42which means that this year we're able to pay the Winterfell payment to more pensioners, so £9 million will receive it this year.

00:49Isn't it verging on fake news to claim that the economy is substantially better?

00:54The OBR halved growth in March. The OECD downgraded Britain just a week ago.

01:00It's just not true that we're in a better position.

01:02Well, the Office of Budget Responsibility increased the growth forecast for every other year in the forecast.

01:09They said that our reforms to the planning system would make the economy £6.8 billion bigger, bringing in additional tax revenue as well.

01:17And in the first quarter of this year, we were the fastest-growing economy in the G7.

01:22There's still work to do to ensure that the sums always add up.

01:26But because of the decisions that we've made, because of the stability we've returned to the economy,

01:32we are now able to pay the Winterfell payment to more pensioners.

01:36We're not going back to the universal system.

01:38I don't think it is right that the very richest pensioners have their fuel bills subsidised,

01:43but this year 9 million pensioners will get the Winterfell payment.

01:47Finally, Chancellor, there's a pattern post-local elections.

01:50The Labour left shouts and you crumble.

01:52Winterfell gone without you telling us how you're going to pay for it.

01:55Two-child benefit cap being junked.

01:58Disability cuts softened.

02:00You're cosplaying fiscal discipline.

02:03Isn't this the worst nightmare of the markets?

02:05They are learning that you can't say no to your MPs.

02:08I set out the spending envelope in the budget and the spring statement this...

02:13..and we'll be setting out the spending settlements for every government department

02:17based on that envelope that we set in the budget and the spring statement.

02:22And markets and the public will be able to see public services living within their means,

02:27living within the totals that we set out this week.

02:29So that's the best investment in the future.

02:31Let's see.

02:32I think I'm happy.

02:34Will you continue to do this?

02:34Let me do it.

02:35Let me do it.

02:41Take me, please.

02:41Let me trust you.

02:42If you are the one who wants to do it,

02:44please come and let me.

02:45Please go.

02:46Please go.

02:47Please come and listen.

02:48How can I?

02:50Please come and listen.

02:51Please come and listen.

02:52Please come and listen.

02:54Please come and listen.

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