Political commentator Dominic Moffitt has described Prime Minister Keir Starmer's U-turn on winter fuel payments as "a very difficult day" for the Government.
The remarks come as Starmer announced plans to widen eligibility for the benefit following months of criticism.
The Prime Minister told MPs he wants to "ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments".
Speaking on GB News, host Tom Harwood said: "This is difficult to describe as anything other than perhaps a difficult day for the Prime Minister and a victory for Nigel Farage."
Dominic Moffitt said that it is a "very difficult day" for the Prime Minister
GB NEWS
Political commentator Dominic Moffitt responded: "I think you're right. I think this is a very difficult day for the Prime Minister. There are two core parts to this.
"The first is that Labour MPs who have been sent out to defend this policy month after month are going to be absolutely furious. They’ve been sent out to defend something that the Prime Minister will now try to take credit for rolling back.
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The second point is that businesses crave stability they want predictability in taxation. I know this isn’t a tax, but Treasury ministers have made it very clear that we’re not going to keep changing everything.
"Under the last government, there were something like eight major tax changes for small businesses in the couple of years leading up to the election.
"Treasury ministers have said they won't behave like that. If this marks the beginning of a similar pattern, small businesses are really going to suffer.
"I was speaking to small business owners, Sohan and Andrea, and they said the biggest issue for them is the inability to predict what’s coming down the line. They want long-term policies they can plan around.
"Now, if this money is going to be redirected toward winter fuel payments perhaps £1.5 billion where will the Chancellor find that £1.5 billion?
"That money has to come from somewhere. There have already been major announcements about increases in defence spending. There have also been many promises about investing in infrastructure.
"Are those the areas that will now face cuts? Businesses are not going to want to see that."
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the end of universal winter fuel payments for pensioners last July, shortly after Labour took power.
Keir Starmer announced the U-turn today
PAThe cuts, worth between £200 and £300 per recipient, affected more than nine million pensioners across the UK, including roughly 900,000 in Scotland.
The Treasury hoped to save around £1.3 billion annually by restricting payments to poorer households already receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits.
Reeves justified the controversial move by citing a fiscal "blackhole" left by the previous Conservative government, but the policy has faced mounting criticism from opposition parties and Labour backbenchers alike.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Starmer over the "U-turn", calling him "desperate" during a Commons exchange.
