Rishi Sunak Accuses Sir Keir Starmer of ‘Hiding’ Impact Assessment on Winter Fuel Payment Cut

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of concealing an impact assessment related to proposed cuts in winter fuel payments, which would affect 10 million pensioners. The cut, debated and pushed through by Labour MPs on Tuesday, has sparked a political row.
Sunak challenged Starmer twice during the debate, demanding transparency on the impact assessment for the policy. Starmer, however, deflected by blaming the previous Conservative administration for leaving a £22 billion “black hole” in the economy and did not address whether an impact assessment exists or if it would be published.
Sunak argued that the cut was unrelated to public finances and cited comments from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who reportedly said the policy was not intended to raise significant revenue. Sunak claimed that the decision was made with proper impact analysis, a statement supported by Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who confirmed an assessment of the policy’s effects on pensioners in fuel poverty.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero indicated that the impact document would be published “in due course,” drawing criticism from Labour MPs who decried the delay in disclosure. Sunak criticized Starmer’s reluctance to publish the assessment and accused him of failing to take responsibility for economic challenges and other issues.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson defended the Labour government’s approach, asserting that the administration has been transparent about the challenges and the actions taken to mitigate the impact on vulnerable pensioners. The policy will see pensioners not claiming pension credit lose up to £300 in winter fuel payments traditionally provided to help with heating costs.