Winter Fuel Payment Victory: Chancellor U-turns on Pensioner Payments

Millions of pensioners in the UK will benefit from a government U-turn on winter fuel payments. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a significant policy change, raising the income threshold for eligibility from approximately £11,500 to £35,000. This decision directly impacts 1.8 million of the wealthiest pensioners. The change follows a sustained campaign by the Daily Express, which highlighted the hardship faced by many pensioners and called for a fairer system. "This is a huge victory," said a spokesperson for the Daily Express, "not just for pensioners, but also for our campaign that's been running for nearly a year." The announcement comes just 24 hours after campaigners demanded action from the Chancellor. The change has been welcomed by many across the political spectrum, including Labour backbenchers.