Labour budget: pensioner’s benefits to be protected

Labour budget: pensioner’s benefits to be protected

Sir Keir Starmer, the UK PRime MInister

The PM is adament labout can rebuild the UK economy. (Photo:@Keir_Starmer on X)

After a controversial move to axe winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, labour has not had an easy time, recently. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party and the UK Prime Minister, has been accused of attacking pensioners. He now seems to be trying to quell their anger and is expected to protect other benefits during the budget.

The budget will be announced in Parliament next Wednesday

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is expected to ensure older people continue receiving free prescriptions and bus travel amid concerns that scrapping these could form part of Labour’s plan to bridge the Treasury deficit. MPs, campaigners and pensioners have demanded that the government reverse their decision on the winter fuel payment, which is estimated to affect around 10 million pensioners. Reeves will announce her budget in parliament next Wednesday.

The PM said the budget will “define the way we approach the economy.”

Sir Keir told reporters on the way to  a Commonwealth summit in Samoa, “I’m not going to pre-empt that but we do want to make sure that pensioners are properly protected, of course we do.” He also said the budget next week will be “the party’s first opportunity to define the way in which we approach the economy.” 

The investment summit and pledges of investment made

Talking about the investment summit held last week, Starmer said he was “confident that the UK would see more businesses invest beyond the £63 billion pledged at last week’s investment summit.” He continued: there was “no reason” for entrepreneurs to leave the country because of the Budget. He said: “My evidence that what we are saying is attractive to investors is last Monday’s investment summit that was hugely successful. All the feedback back to us has been that it was very well received by a significant number of global investors. At that summit by the end of close of the day £63billion had come in in agreements for people with investment. That to me is clear evidence that these investors have confidence in what we are doing.”

Rachel Reeve’s budget will be “unashamedly pro-business.”

A spokesperson for the PM said that Rachel Reeve’s budget would be “unashamedly pro-business,” and “Fixing the foundation means actually being absolutely clear about scrubbing this and making sure we’re onto a very, very stable footing.” When the Prime Minister was pressed by journalists on his definition of ‘working people’ he replied: “I have in mind people who go out earn their living, may have some savings, but don’t have the ability to sort of routinely write a big check if they get into difficulties. They’re the people uppermost in my mind when we’re making our decisions.”

Next Wednesday’s budget announcements will be the first time a labour government has had this responsibility in 15 years and it will remain to be seen if it will be good enough to improve the UK’s economy as Labour are so adamant they can do. 

Written by

Gemma Middleton

Gemma is a content writer, teacher and screenwriter who has lived in Spain for 16 years. She's now enjoying her time as an 'empty nester'

Comments


    • Brian

      25 October 2024 • 14:03

      God help Britain! So glad I left 12 years ago! (Not for the first time, I might add!)
      UK sold my beloved Rhodesia out to the terrorists led by Mugabe, who promptly started the destruction of such a beautiful country!

    • Mick Flannagan

      25 October 2024 • 16:05

      I would not believe one word Two Tier Stammer said, but the man is no fool, his latest trick with pensioners is to give them rises then once these rises take them over the tax threshold then BANG, he gets his money back because he needs every penny for the illegal immigrants that he loves so much. But the UK deserve Two Tier Stammer because they were warned what he would do. Labour hate white British people and they have always left the country broke.

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