Economy will have to be 'strong enough' for U-turn on winter fuel, business secretary says
The economy will have to be "strong enough" for the government to U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, the business secretary has said.
Jonathan Reynolds, talking to on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, also said the public would have to "wait for the actual budget" to make an announcement on it.
Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday , which has been removed from more than 10 million pensioners this winter after it became means-tested.
He and his ministers had insisted they would stick to their guns on the policy, even just hours before Sir Keir revealed his change of heart at Prime Minister's Questions.
But Mr Reynolds revealed there is more at play to be able to change the policy.
"The economy has got to be strong enough to give you the capacity to make the kind of decisions people want us to see," he said.
"We want people to know we're listening.
"All the prime minister has said is look, he's listening, he's aware of it.
"He wants a strong economy to be able to deliver for people.
"You'd have to wait for the actual budget to do that."
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has committed to just one major fiscal event a year, meaning just one annual budget in the autumn.
Autumn budgets normally take place in October, with the last one at the end of the month.
If this year's budget is around the same date it will leave little time for the extra winter fuel payments to be made as they are paid between November and December.
You can listen to the on tomorrow's Electoral Dysfunction podcast
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