Winter fuel U-turn welcomed by local Labour MPs
House of CommonsA partial government U-turn on the decision to cut winter fuel payments for some pensioners has been broadly welcomed by Labour MPs in the North East.
Labour has faced significant criticism over the policy, which restricted eligibility to those pensioners who qualify for pension credit and other income-related benefits, saving the government nearly £1.5 billion.
The policy has been singled out as a key reason for the party's poor performance at recent local elections.
However, one MP said the government needed an "urgent re-think" more generally, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the U-turn in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
But he specified the policy would not be altered until the autumn Budget, adding ministers would only "make decisions we can afford".
So far, it remains unclear how many will regain their entitlement, or when exactly the changes will take effect.
Ashington and Blyth MP Ian Lavery - who abstained from voting for the policy - called on the government to "urgently re-think, not only its position on this, but its entire direction of travel".
"Last year, the public voted for change - and yet we've failed to convince them that we're serious about delivering it.
"We win trust by staying true to our Labour values, and by being bold."
Mr Lavery also backs universal Free School Meals and the "scrapping the callous changes to personal independence payment [Pip] that threaten the dignity and independence of people with disabilities".
Newcastle East and Wallsend MP Mary Glindon welcomed the U-turn, suggesting the prime minister had been listening to his MPs and the issues brought up on people's doorsteps during election campaigning earlier this month.
"I had written to Rachel Reeves myself, as a constituency MP, asking her to reverse her decision on the winter fuel allowance," said Glindon.
"So I am particularly pleased by the announcement, although the devil will be in the detail – hopefully, it will be reinstated to every pensioner who needs it."