SIR Keir Starmer today denied that means-testing winter fuel payments is a punishment beating for pensioners.
On the plane to Washington DC, where he arrived this morning, the PM refused to answer questions on the possibility of more pain for OAPs.
ReutersSir Keir Starmer today denied he is giving a punishment beating to pensioners over winter fuel payments[/caption]
APThe PM made the comments en route to Washington DC, where he will meet with US President Joe Biden for crunch talks on Ukraine[/caption]
Ministers have ruled out stripping pensioners of free bus passes at the October 30 “brutal Budget”.
But fears have mounted that the single person council tax discount could be the next victim of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ money saving mission.
Asked if residents should worry a levy hike is on the way, the frustrated PM replied: “I’m absolutely not punishing pensioners.
“I’m not going to say before the budget what we’re going to do.
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“That does not mean that I’m ruling in anything that you might be putting to me, it simply means like every Prime Minister we’re not going to reveal what’s in the budget before we get to it.
“We did this in the election all the way through.”
This morning the Tories blasted spluttering Labour ministers for being forced to “defend the indefensible” winter fuel decision on TV and radio.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle took a beating on Good Morning Britain as he was pressed on why a full impact assessment into the move was never conducted.
Mr Kyle said: “We are making these tough decisions because we are forced to.
“Therefore, we’re acting in a way which is making sure pensioners overall will benefit.
“Pensioners had an above inflation rise in their income this year and they will do so next year.”
Slamming the comments, Tory Chairman Richard Fuller said: “Labour ministers are being sent out to defend the indefensible.
“Keir Starmer must urgently come clean and tell every single Member of Parliament, including his own Labour MPs, how many of their constituents will freeze this winter because of the Labour Government’s choice to choose their union paymasters over vulnerable pensioners.”
It comes as fresh polling by IPSOS today found that the number of Brits who viewed the PM positively plummeted from 38 per cent in August to 32 per cent this month.
And those who felt negatively towards him grew by 8 points to 46 per cent.