Starmer defies Labour clamour for tax hikes to fund more welfare as he hints at winter fuel allowance move soon - as MPs turn on Rachel Reeves
Keir Starmer defied a rising Labour clamour for tax hikes today as he hinted that details of the winter fuel allowance climbdown will emerge soon.
The PM poured cold water on left-wing demands for 'wealth taxes' to fund spending on benefits and service, arguing that the burden is already 'high'.
But he suggested there is room for action on the two-child benefit cap, and hinted an announcement on winter fuel payments is close.
The comments came as a Survation poll found two thirds of Labour MPs oppose Chancellor Rachel Reeves ' fiscal rules - and a fifth favour tax rises over spending cuts.
A revolt is brewing over proposed curbs to disability benefits, as the Treasury desperately scrambles to balance the books with the economy stalling and calls for more defence funding.
It has emerged that Deputy PM Angela Rayner lobbied for tax rises instead of a welfare crackdown before the Spring Statement.
The political danger to Sir Keir was underlined last week when Nigel Farage outflanked him by committing to axe the two-child cap and fully reverse winter fuel cuts.
Reform has been enjoying a surge in the polls since the local elections, well ahead of Labour and the Tories.
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Keir said: 'I want to look again at where the threshold is. That's for sure. I'll be clear with you.
'In relation to that, I do think it was our duty to stabilise the economy and to fill in that £22billion black hole. And I'm not going to resile from that.'
Ministers 'need to be absolutely clear where the money is coming from' before they set out details of a partial U-turn on the winter fuel payment, Sir Keir said.
However, he suggested that changes would be announced soon, and be in place for this winter.
'I take your point, which is that if we want to look again at which pensioners are eligible, then the sooner we have clarity on that, the better,' he said.
The premier was also asked about mounting speculation that the two-child benefit cap will be scrapped.
'I don't think this is a silver bullet. I will say that straight away,' he said.
'I think there are many measures that contribute to child poverty, and therefore I don't take the sort of binary approach: 'It's either this or nothing'.
'On the other hand, as I say, as we go forward with this review, I am clear in my own mind that I want this Labour Government to bring down child poverty, and I'm determined that that is what we will do.'
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