Latest news with #Review
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP Winter Fuel Payment won't be reinstated for one group despite U-turn
Last week, Sir Keir Starmer signalled a potential U-turn on the controversial policy to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment One group of pensioners will not have their Winter Fuel Payment reinstated this year if Labour pushes ahead with its U-turn a government minister has confirmed. In an interview this week, a government minister confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment would not be given to "millionaire" pensioners and would onyl go to those who "that need it the most". Last week, Sir Keir Starmer signalled a potential U-turn on the controversial policy to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment. During PMQ's, the Prime Minister told the Commons that the government wanted to ensure that more pensioners would be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment going forward. Keir Starmer said the decision on this, however, was "as part of a fiscal event" so any changes would only come after a Spending Review. He told the Commons: "I recognise people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis including pensioners, and as the economy improves we want to make sure people feel those improvements as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure as we go forward more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments. As you would expect we will only make sure we make decisions we can afford." The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) payment is worth £300 and is paid to pensioner households between October and March. The aim of the money is to help with the extra costs of heating the home over the winter months. Speaking to Sky News on Thursday evening, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones was asked about Reform UK's commitments on fully reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment. He said: "All of those things cost money. It's right that we set out the detail and how we're going to pay for those in a proper and orderly way.' "We're sticking to the principle that millionaires shouldn't be getting subsidy for their energy bills from the government, so Winter Fuel Payments will still be targeted to those that need it the most.' It is believed that the Government is considering a rethink of the £11,500 cut-off for the allowance, which would allow more people to get the money. Last year, the Labour government means-tested the Winter Fuel Payment. This meant that only certain pensioners over the age of 66 would receive the money, rather than all pensioners. The move saw over nine million pensioners in the UK lose the extra cash last winter. Labour faced severe backlash at the time, which has continued to follow them. Legal challenges have been raised against the government for the move, with charities warning that it would push more older Brits into poverty. Research conducted by Unite Union found that over two-thirds of its retired members had to turn their heating down last winter, a third were taking fewer baths or showers, and 16% had to cut back on hot meals due to the increased costs of trying to stay warm. The axing of the benefit was also linked to the rise in Reform Councillors in the recent elections.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
PHOTOS: Music, culture shine at Lekompo Balcony Mix
Raeesa Sempe Raeesa Sempe is a Caxton Award-winning Digital Editor with nine years' experience in the industry. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and started her journey as a community journalist for the Polokwane Review in 2015. She then became the online journalist for the Review in 2016 where she excelled in solidifying the Review's digital footprint through Facebook lives, content creation and marketing campaigns. Raeesa then moved on to become the News Editor of the Bonus Review in 2019 and scooped up the Editorial Employee of the Year award in the same year. She is the current Digital Editor of the Polokwane Review-Observer, a position she takes pride in. Raeesa is married with one child and enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and baking – when she has the time. 'I still believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon." – Tom Stoppard
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
IMF warns UK to keep budget in check or risk market revolt
[BRUSSELS] UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves must stick to her fiscal rules and keep spending under control or risk a market backlash that undermines the government's economic plans, the International Monetary Fund warned. In its Article IV annual health check of the economy, the world's economic supervisor told Reeves that any additional spending, such as proposals to reverse cuts to winter-fuel subsidies for pensioners or ending the two-child benefit limit, will need to be covered by other savings or tax rises. The government needs 'to stay the course and deliver the planned deficit reduction over the next five years to stabilise net debt and reduce vulnerability to gilt market pressures,' the fund said. Global trade uncertainty and market shocks could yet derail the outlook, it added. 'Materialisation of these risks could result in market pressures, put debt on an upward path, and make it harder to meet the fiscal rules, given limited headroom.' The IMF proposed 'additional revenue or expenditure measures as needed if shocks arise.' Its recommendations come ahead of the June 11 Spending Review, when Reeves will set budget limits for government departments for the next three years. She fixed the envelope in March but left just £9.9 billion (S$17.2 billion) of headroom against her main fiscal rule that taxes must cover day-to-day spending by the end of the parliament, one of the smallest margins on record. Reeves has already experienced the reaction of gilt markets to any hint of fiscal laxity at a time when the national debt is close to 100 per cent of gross domestic product. Her big-borrowing budget in October drove up debt costs, more than wiping out her fiscal buffer as yields on long-end debt soared to a 27-year high. Reeves was forced to slash spending in the March Spring Statement to repair the damage. Pressure on the public purse has mounted in recent days. The government has promised to unwind the cut to winter fuel payments, which would cost up to £1.8 billion, and is considering raising the two-child cap on benefits, potentially costing another £2.5 billion amid growing calls from within the ruling Labour Party to relax its self-imposed budget limits. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is not ruling out any policy to ease child poverty, his spokesman Dave Pares told reporters on Tuesday, but insisted the government views the fiscal rules as vital and non-negotiable. 'One of the elements why there is intense focus on headroom is because headroom is not very high,' said Luc Eyraud, the IMF's UK mission chief. 'To reduce the reactivity of short-term policy to the concept of headroom, the first solution should be to have higher headroom.' BLOOMBERG
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
The planned refurb of the derelict GAA ground in west Belfast has faced years of delay due to legal action by concerned residents and funding uncertainty. Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments. She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon. Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million. Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time. The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built. 'This is an Executive flagship project. 'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.' Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'. 'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line. 'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built. 'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
South Wales Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
The planned refurb of the derelict GAA ground in west Belfast has faced years of delay due to legal action by concerned residents and funding uncertainty. Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments. She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon. Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million. Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time. The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built. 'This is an Executive flagship project. 'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.' Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'. 'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line. 'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built. 'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
