
This is a move which, reportedly, the prime minister privately now concedes was a “mistake” – and which he must now regret. Hitting Britain’s hard-up pensioners with this unwelcome Christmas present was one of the earliest of the blunders in policy and in presentation that the government has made since it came to power; yet, despite the slump in their poll ratings, there seems to be no end in sight to the missteps.
In the months since the election, communications have become Labour’s greatest weakness, where once they were a formidable strength. The winter fuel cut was a nasty surprise, deeply unpopular – and there was no inkling of anything like it being contemplated by the party before Labour ministers were safely ensconced behind their ministerial desks.
Ms Badenoch also made a passing reference to another U-turn, and one even less pre-ordained: the plight of the Waspi women. But it was backbenchers from his own party and others who repeatedly rose to skewer Sir Keir and his colleagues.
He was asked whether he understood their pain – and how he can now justify denying them the “justice” that he and others promised them apparently in good faith before the general election. It is not so much the merits of the case that are causing the government difficulties but the glaringly awkward fact that Sir Keir and his senior colleagues publicly and enthusiastically endorsed the campaign waged by the Women Against State Pension Inequality.
Rightly, the prime minister seems ill at ease when his past remarks are played back to him. These women have undoubtedly been disadvantaged by the planned changes in the pension age made in the 1990s – and Labour backed them.
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar

Taliban say women's rights are protected despite bans
The Taliban issued a message on International Women's Day, saying Afghan women live in security with their rights protected, even as the UN condemned ongoing employment and education bans.

Fernandes steps up to bury Arsenal's fragile title hopes
The chorus was about winning the league at Old Trafford.

England unleash attack to keep Six Nations hope alive
Perhaps it will not be a French fait accompli on Super Saturday.

'Peaky Blinders' devastate Russians with drone attacks
Ukrainians fight in caps with motto 'To Find and Destroy'

Russian activist fears Trump influence on US asylum bid
Valeriia Razheva faces jail if she is forced to return to Russia

Labour could shut planning bodies to speed up building
Ministers could slash the number of official bodies that get a say in planning decisions in a drive to cut red tape.

Farage faces witch hunt claim in Reform civil war
Nigel Farage has been forced to defend his leadership of Reform as the party descends into further civil war over the suspension of MP Rupert Lowe.

Ukrainians blame 'traitor' Trump for battlefield losses
On the ground, Ukrainians are acutely aware of the repercussions of Donald Trump's hardline decision to cut aid and access to military intelligence in the wake of his fateful White House row with Volodymyr Zelensky.

'Had I not pushed for a test, it would have been stage 4'
Paul Campbell had to fight for his cancer diagnosis as fears grow of a two-tier NHS that is based upon patient ethnicity.

BBC needs more workingclass voices, new chair says
The newly appointed chair of the BBC has called for the broadcaster to hire more “Northern working-class” voices as he suggested there was a lack of diversity of thought.