Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reversed the Labour government's initial decision to cut the winter fuel allowance, restoring it for pensioners with an income of £35,000 or less a year, a move defended by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Miliband stated Reeves 'deserves credit' for listening to public sentiment. This U-turn has intensified calls for further action on child poverty. Concurrently, Miliband announced a significant £14.2 billion government investment to fund the building of Sizewell C nuclear power station, marking the largest investment in new nuclear in over half a century in Britain.
Ed Miliband says Reeves ‘deserves credit’ for winter fuel payment U-turn
Fuel povertyEd MilibandRachel ReevesPoliticsUKOlder peopleBenefitsLabour
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reversed the Labour government's initial decision to cut the winter fuel allowance, restoring it for pensioners with an income of £35,000 or less a year, a move defended by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Miliband stated Reeves 'deserves credit' for listening to public sentiment. This U-turn has intensified calls for further action on child poverty. Concurrently, Miliband announced a significant £14.2 billion government investment to fund the building of Sizewell C nuclear power station, marking the largest investment in new nuclear in over half a century in Britain.
Trending- 1 Labour government initially cut winter fuel allowance (first act).
- 2 Public outrage over the cut.
- 3 Monday: Treasury announced restoration of winter fuel allowance for pensioners with income up to £35,000.
- 4 Tuesday: Ed Miliband defended Reeves' U-turn and announced £14.2 billion funding for Sizewell C nuclear power station.
- 5 Sizewell C development greenlit after a 15-year journey to secure investment.
- 6 Reeves to set out £113 billion of new capital investment in the spending review.
- Restoration of winter fuel allowance for many pensioners
- Increased pressure on the government to address child poverty
- Significant public investment in nuclear energy infrastructure
- Potential for stabilized national finances and long-term energy security
What: Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, performed a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance, restoring it for many pensioners, a decision supported by Ed Miliband. Miliband also announced a major government investment in the Sizewell C nuclear power station.
When: Monday (Treasury announcement of U-turn), Tuesday (Ed Miliband's announcement regarding Sizewell C). The initial cut was the first act of the Labour government.
Where: UK (specifically, Sizewell C in Britain).
Why: The U-turn on winter fuel allowance was due to public outrage and strength of feeling. The investment in Sizewell C is to stabilize the nation's finances, meet spending commitments, and secure future energy supply.
How: Reeves changed the threshold for the winter fuel allowance after public feedback and fiscal assessment. The Sizewell C funding is part of a larger £113 billion new capital investment plan, with majority public investment and no future Chinese investment.