21 h. ago Pensioners told who 'won't get Winter Fuel Payments' under new rule changes

The Government has announced a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance following a backlash over unpopular cuts last year which took money away from 10 million pensioners

Economics

27 h. ago Energy minister leaves Government after two weeks for health reasons

Downing Street announced Baroness Margaret Curran had left her role as an energy minister on Friday afternoon.

Politics

32 h. ago Pensioners who 'still won't get Winter Fuel Payments' after new rules announced

The Government has announced a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance following a backlash over unpopular cuts last year which took money away from 10 million pensioners

Economics

37 h. ago Keir Starmer's muddled politics are reaching their limit. It's time for him to make a choice | Andy Beckett

Veer left or double down on the right? Either way, the prime minister needs to commit and sell it to an impatient electorateAfter less than a year in power, Labour has reached a familiar place. Keir Starmer’s troubled government is at a fork in the road, wondering which direction to follow. With the delivery of its spending review next week after several acrimonious delays, and a Commons vote on its divisive welfare cuts expected later this month, the government’s unity and morale are fragile. The public finances are severely strained, with ever more competing demands, such as for extra defence spending. Though much more energetic than its Tory predecessor, this government often seems opaque, unable to explain its purpose in a compelling way.Many voters and journalists – even more impatient than usual after years of manic politics – are already considering what might replace Starmer’s administration. At barely 20% in the polls, Labour is as unpopular as in its most disliked days und...

Politics

40 h. ago Major summer holiday update for Brits on when they can skip EU airport queues

Under the terms of the Labour Government's Brexit "reset" agreement with Brussels, talks are continuing on ways to "smooth border management" between the UK and EU

Politics

43 h. ago Labour's 'winter fuel death tax': Tens of thousands of grieving families could be hounded to pick up their dead elderly relative's HMRC bill

The families of dead pensioners could be hounded by the taxman under Labour's winter fuel payments U-turn, it emerged yesterday.

Events

47 h. ago State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase

The payment is worth £100 more depending on when you were born

Economics

48 h. ago Families of dead pensioners could be chased by taxman to recoup winter fuel payment

'Unforeseen consequence' of Treasury’s plans to restore the payments as a universal benefit would see a six-month lag - and some pensioners could die during that time

Economics

50 h. ago Mirror Daily Digest: Top stories from 'dangerous' Ryanair flight to free school meals

In this Thursday's Mirror Daily Digest, we've pulled together the biggest stories of the day from Romeo Beckham's split from his girlfriend, to even more Winter Fuel Payments updates

Politics

56 h. ago Bereaved families of dead pensioners ‘could be pursued by taxman to recoup winter fuel payments’

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that millions more elderly Britons will receive the allowance this year in a major U-turn

Economics

57 h. ago Forcing rich pensioners to pay back winter fuel allowance would be tax ‘nightmare’, Reeves warned

Chancellor expected to reinstate universal winter fuel payments - but claw grants back from some through higher taxes

Events

58 h. ago Martin Lewis shares 'key message' after major Winter Fuel Payment U

Speaking at an event in Rochdale, Greater Manchester yesterday, Reeves told reporters that "more people will get Winter Fuel Payment this winter", adding that further details will be announced "as soon as we possibly can"

Politics

59 h. ago DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payments will not be issued to all pensioners this year

The UK Government has not yet set out who will now qualify for payments of between £200 and £300.

Economics

59 h. ago Winter fuel payments could be returned to ALL pensioners this year but some will repay it

The Treasury is reportedly looking at linking the payments to people's incomes instead of pension credit, which could mean the universal benefit is restored then recouped

Economics

61 h. ago Why is defence such a hard sell? The same reason Starmer is struggling in the polls | Martin Kettle

Decades of failures have left liberal democratic governments unable to command public confidence when it really mattersDefence reviews and foreign policy resets seem to turn up almost as often as the Sussexes’ lifestyle brand relaunches these days. Labour’s strategic defence review this week comes less than two years after the Conservatives’ hardly less detailed defence white paper in July 2023, which in turn was a “refresh” of Boris Johnson’s ambitious integrated review of defence and foreign policy of March 2021. By this measure, it must be doubtful if, come the 2030s, analysts will look back on Keir Starmer and John Healey’s review and say it broke the mould.The Labour government was entitled to try to put its own stamp on defence policy, of course, and its review team of George Robertson, Richard Barrons and Fiona Hill did a good, reasonably independent job. Yet this 2020s pattern of repeated strategic adaptation and refocus feels like the new normal now. It is also true that gr...

Politics

3 d. ago Martin Lewis sends warning message to chancellor after DWP Winter Fuel Payment update

Rachel Reeves announced that changes to the eligibility criteria for the benefit will be revealed in the coming weeks

Events

3 d. ago Badenoch challenges Starmer at PMQs over winter fuel payment U

Tory leader says PM should apologise to pensioners and asks how U-turn will be fundedReeves says her changes to the fiscal rules last year will make more investment possible.The decisions that we made in October mean that, for the first time, the Treasury actually takes account of the benefits and not just the costs of investment, and together, the fiscal rules mean that, unlike our predecessors, we will not be balancing the books by cutting investment.And that is why we can increase investment by over £113bn more than the last government plans, meaning public investment will be at its highest sustained level since the 1970s.I have had to say no to things that I want to do too, but that is not because of my fiscal rules. It is the result of 14 years of Conservative maltreatment of our public services, our public realm and of our economy. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer accused of chaos after Reeves gives winter fuel payment U

Tory leader insists PM should apologise to pensioners ahead of reversing unpopular policy

Politics

3 d. ago What is the winter fuel payment? Rachel Reeves confirms more pensioners will qualify this year

Payments are made to help ease the burden of paying for heating bills

Economics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves winter fuel payments: Chancellor provides update on who will get allowance and when

Rachel Reeves has provided an update on the previously announced U-turn on winter fuel payments.

Politics