Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves addressed concerns over plans to scale back the winter fuel allowance, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision but also highlighting the increase in the new state pension. She emphasized the importance of protecting the triple lock and blamed the Conservatives for the tough decisions that need to be made.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron criticized the government’s attack on winter fuel payments and suggested excluding higher-rate taxpayers from receiving the allowance to save embarrassment. Meanwhile, the government announced an independent appeals process for wrongly accused subpostmasters in the Horizon shortfall scheme.
In other news, the government is considering changes to UK sanctions on Russia to target individual ships, and a Tory MP raised questions about funding for rural councils to support bus services.
Labour has proposed giving English local authorities the power to run bus services, while concerns have been raised that means-testing winter fuel payments could push an additional 100,000 pensioners into poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggested alternative measures to alleviate the impact on pensioner poverty.
Overall, the government is facing criticism and challenges on various fronts, from fiscal decisions to sanctions and public transport management. The political landscape remains tumultuous as key decisions and debates continue.
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