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Political party Reform UK has announced its plans to reinstate winter fuel payments to pensioners and eliminate the two-child benefit cap if they come into power. The party’s proposals are set to be revealed at a press conference in the coming week, following calls for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to revise his stance on these policies by Labour MPs. However, it is suggested that by the next general election, there may not be a need to reverse either of these measures.
Sir Keir has already hinted at softening the cuts to winter fuel payments, although specifics on when and how this will be done have not been disclosed. Additionally, government officials claim that he has expressed a desire to abolish the two-child benefit cap, although a formal decision on this matter may not be reached for several months. The interference by Nigel Farage, as reported by the Sunday Telegraph, is expected to exacerbate the growing rift within Labour regarding policy issues.
Reform UK intends to finance their new initiatives by slashing net zero projects and doing away with accommodations for asylum seekers. A source close to the party has asserted that they are already gaining an advantage over Labour on these particular topics. While more than 10 million pensioners were deprived of winter fuel payments last year due to restrictions, Sir Keir has reversed course on this issue in response to mounting political pressure in recent weeks. He has pledged adjustments to the policy at the autumn Budget, emphasizing the need for affordable decision-making by his administration.
The winter fuel payment traditionally amounts to £200 annually for households with a pensioner under the age of 80, or £300 for households with a pensioner aged 80 and above. On the issue of the two-child benefit cap, Sir Keir is reportedly in favor of its elimination, with the Treasury exploring avenues to fund this move, as indicated in the Observer. The policy, introduced in 2017 by the Conservative government, affects around 1.5 million families by preventing them from accessing means-tested benefits for any additional children born after April 2017. Despite delays in the publication of the government’s child poverty strategy, efforts to scrap the cap are being deliberated. Labour members have been persistent in their calls for its removal, with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown labeling it as a contributor to child poverty
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