Winter fuel U-turn welcome but government should go further

PCS has been calling for a reversal of the policy for months, alongside other unions, and at the TUC Congress in September, our general secretary Fran Heathcote criticised the government's decision to cut the winter fuel allowance, calling it "an unjust political choice."

Responding to today’s announcement, Fran said: “While it is welcome that the government has decided to partially reverse its plan that denied millions of pensioners access to essential help with heating their homes during the winter, this U-turn from Rachel Reeves does not go far enough.

“I urge the government to also rethink other policies, including retaining the two-child benefit cap, and hugely damaging cuts to disability benefits. Ministers need to take real action against poverty. It's time to tax the wealthy and profiteers and invest in our future.”