Starmer’s partial U-turn on support payments met with calls for full reinstatement amid fears older people could face another cold winter

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed a partial U-turn on the government’s controversial changes to Winter Fuel Payments—but the announcement has been criticised by campaigners and the Welsh Conservatives as insufficient and lacking in detail.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (May 21), Sir Keir hinted at a policy reversal, saying more pensioners could once again become eligible for the benefit this winter. His comments follow months of criticism after last year’s decision to restrict access to the Winter Fuel Payment, which removed automatic eligibility for millions of older people.

The benefit, long intended to help pensioners cover the cost of heating during the coldest months, is seen as vital in rural and colder areas of Wales, where fuel poverty is a growing concern. But campaigners and politicians say the Prime Minister’s remarks leave too many questions unanswered.

Age Cymru Chief Executive Victoria Lloyd welcomed the indication of a policy shift but warned that clarity and urgency are essential.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s comments and commitment to change,” she said. “However, the detail is needed so we can be confident that any policy change is going to support those older people that we know are struggling without this vital payment.”

Ms Lloyd said Age Cymru had seen the real-world consequences of last year’s changes: pensioners too afraid to heat their homes, resulting in misery and serious health risks.

“Means-testing Winter Fuel Payments in the way the UK Government announced last summer resulted in many pensioners on low incomes missing out on money they simply couldn’t afford to lose,” she added.

The charity is particularly concerned about older people who are not claiming Pension Credit despite being eligible, those whose incomes place them just above the threshold, and individuals with health conditions that make cold homes especially dangerous.

“We will judge the success of any new policy proposals by the extent to which they help vulnerable older people and those on low and modest incomes to heat their homes adequately next winter,” Ms Lloyd said. “Winter is only six months away—there is no time to waste.”

The announcement has also drawn criticism from the Welsh Conservatives, who described the Prime Minister’s statement as “too little, too late.”

Samuel Kurtz MS, Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Pictured), said: “Supporting our pensioners through the coldest months of the year should never have been in question. While today’s words from the PM are a step in the right direction, it simply doesn’t go far enough—we need a full U-turn to restore confidence and ensure no pensioner is left behind.”

Mr Kurtz reiterated the Welsh Conservatives’ pledge to introduce a dedicated Welsh Winter Fuel Payment if elected to government in Cardiff Bay. He said a devolved approach could deliver more targeted support for communities in Wales, where rural areas often face higher heating costs due to poor insulation and off-grid fuel reliance.

“Despite today’s announcement, the job is not done. We’ll keep up the pressure until a fair and comprehensive system is in place,” he added.

The Herald understands that further clarification on the scope and delivery of the Prime Minister’s revised Winter Fuel Payment policy is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Age Cymru has called for the introduction of a social energy tariff as a longer-term solution—but warned that immediate financial support is needed to prevent another crisis for older people this winter.

Welsh charity warns government must avoid repeat of last winter’s crisis, as older people face cold homes and health risks

THE UK GOVERNMENT has announced a reversal of last year’s controversial cuts to Winter Fuel Payments, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirming during Prime Minister’s Questions that more pensioners will now be eligible for support this coming winter.

The U-turn follows widespread criticism of the means-testing approach introduced last year, which excluded millions of older people from receiving the payment. In Wales, the move was heavily criticised by charities, including Age Cymru, which now says the government must act quickly to restore support before winter returns.

Victoria Lloyd, Chief Executive of Age Cymru, welcomed the Prime Minister’s remarks but cautioned that “the detail is needed” to ensure no one is left behind.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s comments and commitment to change,” she said. “But we must be confident that any policy change is going to support those older people that we know are struggling without this vital payment.”

Last winter, Age Cymru saw a surge in distress among older people across Wales, with many too frightened to turn on their heating due to soaring bills and reduced support. The charity says the situation left vulnerable individuals in misery and placed their health at serious risk.

Ms Lloyd said: “Means-testing Winter Fuel Payments in the way the UK Government announced last summer resulted in many pensioners on low incomes missing out on money they simply couldn’t afford to lose.”

“We said last autumn that we were especially worried about the welfare of older people entitled to Pension Credit but not claiming it; those whose incomes were meagre but just above the threshold; and others who are seriously unwell and whose heating bills are exceptionally high because they cannot allow themselves to get cold.”

The Prime Minister’s comments come just six months ahead of the next winter season. Ms Lloyd warned that time is running out to develop a fair and effective replacement.

“We will judge the success of any new policy proposals by the extent to which they help vulnerable older people and those on low and modest incomes to heat their homes adequately next winter,” she said.

Age Cymru is also calling for the introduction of a social energy tariff as a longer-term measure to protect those most at risk, but says immediate relief is now essential.

Sir Keir Starmer, speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (May 21), confirmed the U-turn, stating that he wants “more pensioners to be eligible for the benefit” after last year’s cuts were met with backlash from older people’s groups and anti-poverty campaigners.

With public confidence shaken, Age Cymru said restoring trust and ensuring that no older person is left in the cold must now be the government’s top priority.

New pledge to gather school choice data from all parents — not just those choosing Welsh-medium education

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has revised its position following mounting criticism over its handling of Welsh-medium education policy, agreeing to broaden the scope of its planned parental survey.

The move comes after a political and public backlash to comments made during the Council Cabinet’s April meeting, where Deputy Leader Paul Miller suggested that some parents were choosing Welsh-medium schools not for the language but for newer facilities. His remarks, and the nature of the Cabinet debate, drew sharp criticism from opposition leader Cllr Huw Murphy, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and Cabinet Secretary for the Welsh Language and Culture, Mark Drakeford.

Critics accused the Cabinet of taking an “anti-Welsh” tone and of singling out parents who chose Welsh-medium education. The row escalated after Mr Drakeford told BBC Cymru: “I can’t see why we would ask parents why they choose Welsh or why they choose English… Local authorities should be making the case for choosing Welsh-medium education, not questioning those who do.”

Now, in an apparent attempt to address those concerns and reset the debate, the Council has issued a fresh statement following its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 21). It confirms that data collection will be considered for all parents, not just those opting for Welsh-medium education.

A Council spokesperson said: “Cabinet has today agreed to explore the collection of information from all parents, regardless of language preference, in order to better understand school choice across the county.”

The updated resolution now asks the Director of Education to explore methods for capturing data on the relative importance of different factors influencing school choice. These include language preference, learning outcomes, quality of facilities, transport provision, and support for pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).

The Council says the data will help inform future decisions on modernising the school estate, ensuring they reflect the priorities of a broad and representative sample of parents.

Despite the softened stance, the issue remains politically sensitive. Cllr Huw Murphy, whose formal “call-in” prompted the Council to revisit its earlier decision, has argued that any perception of bias against Welsh-medium provision risks undermining public trust and the Council’s obligations under the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).

The Welsh Language Commissioner had also expressed concern over the original approach, stating that questioning only parents choosing Welsh-medium schools was “not compatible” with the Council’s statutory duties.

The revised position may go some way toward cooling tensions, but the debate has already highlighted deeper divisions over language policy, school choice, and how local authorities should approach data collection in the context of bilingual education.

The Herald will continue to follow developments closely as the Council works through the next phase of its data-gathering plans.