GMB: Rob and Kate quiz Peter Kyle over winter fuel cuts
A member of Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet, was brutally grilled on Labour's plans to block millions of pensioners from claiming the annual £300 winter fuel payment. GMB host Kate Garroway this morning urged Peter Kyle to own up to a “horrible mistake”.
And Tory chairman Richard Fuller, who branded the interview a “car crash”, later accused the Secretary of State for Science of trying to “defend the indefensible”.
Mr Kyle was challenged to justify the controversial policy to ax the universal winter fuel payment, which all pensioners used to receive regardless of their income, and replace it with an allowance available to pensioners on means-tested benefits, including pension credit and universal credit.
In particular he was asked about Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's admission that no impact assessment had been undertaken before the new policy was unveiled.
Speaking alongside co-host Rob Rinder, Ms Garroway said: “People assumed that a full impact assessment would have been done, if only to protect the popularity of the new government, let alone the safety and health sort of pensioners. And it turns out , it hadn't been – that feels like a terrible mistake.”
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Kate Garraway grills Peter Kyle on Good Morning Britain (Image: GMB)
Mr Kyle replied: “We're making these tough decisions because we're forced to. Therefore, we're acting in the way, which is making sure that pensioners overall will benefit.”
Citing the mechanism whereby the government pledges to increase the state pension each year by the highest of inflation, average earnings or 2.5 percent, whichever is the higher, he continued: “The triple lock will deliver an additional £400.”
However Ms Garroway countered: “This particular policy that you brought in has already had a massive impact on the popularity, individually and personally, of Keir Starmer, and also caused shock and horror and fear.
“Why would he not look and see so you could feel confident of the number of people who might pass away, the number of people that might be impacted, it would seem, because you clearly relish evidence, it would seem to be a really important step.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Mr Kyle responded: “The evidence shows that pensioners had an above inflation rise in their income this year. They will do so again next year, from April, it'll be an additional £400.
“So pensioners, even those pensioners who are going to lose the winter fuel credit, will have, in addition, an overall increase in their income.
“We want to make sure that those pensioners continue to do so, which is why we're committed to it. But we're also making sure that those who are eligible for additional credits, make sure they registered for it.”
Mr Rinder said: “You wouldn't have made a policy without absolutely being sure what the evidence and the impact is – you're the science minister, just to be clear.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller (Image: PA)
“So what's your view of the fact that this happened, looking into the camera and being clear, this is a terrible mistake, isn't it?”
Mr Kyle insisted: “Well, the evidence is that pensioners, overall, even those who are going to lose the winter fuel credit, are going to get an increase in their income next year.”
Ms Garroway interjected: “This winter, and with energy prices going up they are not going to feel that.”
Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller MP commented: “Labour ministers are being sent out to defend the indefensible. Labour's fabricated narrative on their economic inheritance is in tatters and now Keir Starmer has admitted Labor have no idea how many pensioners will freeze this winter because the Labor Government haven't bothered to do an impact assessment.”
The Winter Fuel Payment eligibility change is highly controversial (Image: Getty)
He added: “Keir Starmer must urgently come clean and tell every single Member of Parliament, including his own Labor MPs, how many of their constituents will freeze this winter because of the Labor Government's choice to choose their union paymasters over vulnerable pensioners.”
Responding to a written question by Labor MP Rachael Maskell, Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds said banding based on property values may not accurately reflect taxpayers' incomes.
The Government has axed the universal winter fuel payment, which all pensioners used to receive regardless of their income, and replaced it with an allowance available to pensioners on means-tested benefits, including pension credit and universal credit.