Kemi Badenoch tried two ambushes at PMQs. She lambasted Sir Keir Starmer for cutting the winter fuel allowance and leaving old folks to shiver through the coldest months of the year. But Sir Keir claimed that he was merely trying to stabilise the economy. Kemi accused him of balancing the books ‘on the backs of pensioners.’
Sir Keir Starmer blamed his favourite cavity at PMQs, the ‘black hole’
Good start. Kemi has waited a long time to lead on this issue and the clamour of dissent grows daily. She read out a list. The mayor of Doncaster, the Welsh first minister and various grumble-bunnies on Labour’s backbenches are united against the cut to pensioners’ payments.
‘When is he going to listen to his own party,’ asked Kemi. ‘And change course?’
Sir Keir is probably weighing up his options. For now, he’s not budging. If he were replaced, his successor would restore the fuel allowance on Day One.
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