'They're in blind panic!' Nigel Farage takes credit for Winter Fuel Payment U-turn in fiery swipe at Labour

He said the decision to restore the payments to some nine million pensioners was a "considerable step in the right direction" and vowed that his party had made "the political weather on this one".

Just minutes prior, he accused Sir Keir Starmer's party of being in a "state of absolute blind panic" because of the rise of Reform.

"Reform are leading now much of their agenda," he jabbed.

Following the decision to U-turn on the policy, everyone over the state pension age in England and Wales with an income of £35,000 or less a year will now receive the winter payment.

The change will offer certainty and targeted support to those on lower and middle incomes.

Rachel Reeves confirmed that around nine million pensioners will benefit under the new rules, representing over three-quarters of all pensioners in England and Wales.

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The support, which is worth £200 per household, or £300 where someone is aged 80 or over, will be paid automatically this winter.

For those with incomes above the £35,000 threshold, the payment will still be issued but then recovered via HMRC, either through PAYE or a Self-Assessment return.

The Treasury said: "This change gives people certainty and ensures that payments can be made in time for this winter.

"Payments will be better targeted than before 2024-25, when they were previously paid to all pensioners regardless of their income, meaning those on lower and middle incomes will still receive the help they need."

Farage has also vowed that "figures will emerge" in the coming months in the race to become Reform UK's First Ministerial candidate in Wales.

The Reform chief said that while his party was "rapidly" building in Wales, it was not yet at the point of having a "lead member".

He said: "Figures will emerge over the course of the next few months who through merit will no doubt be in a position where they can qualify to be our lead member. We are not at that point of evolution just yet."

Reform UK's "ambition is to re-industrialise Wales" to fuel Britain's growing demand for steel, according to Farage.