Zoë Grünewald

I get that one, yeah.

Yeah, he's got... Sad, sombre expression. He genuinely looks like he's at a funeral. Part of me was thinking, who died? Was it Larry the cat? Who died? But he's actually just telling us that everything's going to be a lot worse. So what's the logic of making that announcement?

Yeah, he's got... Sad, sombre expression. He genuinely looks like he's at a funeral. Part of me was thinking, who died? Was it Larry the cat? Who died? But he's actually just telling us that everything's going to be a lot worse. So what's the logic of making that announcement?

But speaking of very unpopular policies, one of the groups most likely to feel the pinch that Starmer is trailing here are pensioners. Before parliamentary recess, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government's decision to restrict winter fuel payments of up to £300 to only those receiving pension credit. So the government has been on the defensive over their decision.

But speaking of very unpopular policies, one of the groups most likely to feel the pinch that Starmer is trailing here are pensioners. Before parliamentary recess, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government's decision to restrict winter fuel payments of up to £300 to only those receiving pension credit. So the government has been on the defensive over their decision.

They're chalking it up to the 22 billion black hole that Labour claims the previous government left them as a post-election gift. Here's leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, defending the policy on BBC Breakfast.

They're chalking it up to the 22 billion black hole that Labour claims the previous government left them as a post-election gift. Here's leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, defending the policy on BBC Breakfast.

Well, the comment certainly attracted a lot of attention. Some economists, including Ben Zaranco from the IFS, told the FT that the comment was silly and that there may be political reason to try and keep Liz Truss in the imagination of the British public, but this is not a helpful contribution. So is it just politics? More politicking.

Well, the comment certainly attracted a lot of attention. Some economists, including Ben Zaranco from the IFS, told the FT that the comment was silly and that there may be political reason to try and keep Liz Truss in the imagination of the British public, but this is not a helpful contribution. So is it just politics? More politicking.

That's one of the earliest policies is you're going to go for pensioners, already one of the most vulnerable groups. Like I get that there's obviously generational wealth inequality, but there are working class pensioners, there are pensioners in poverty.

That's one of the earliest policies is you're going to go for pensioners, already one of the most vulnerable groups. Like I get that there's obviously generational wealth inequality, but there are working class pensioners, there are pensioners in poverty.

And it's not like, you know, at the moment, the threshold is if they get £11,300 a year incoming from their pensions, they will not be eligible for winter fuel. That's not that much money. You know, like with the cost of everything being as it is. So I don't think they can say they're not putting some pensioners into poverty. And that all feels very Tory, doesn't it?

And it's not like, you know, at the moment, the threshold is if they get £11,300 a year incoming from their pensions, they will not be eligible for winter fuel. That's not that much money. You know, like with the cost of everything being as it is. So I don't think they can say they're not putting some pensioners into poverty. And that all feels very Tory, doesn't it?

I know you're saying it's a group of people and perhaps it might be a minority. It's unclear to me how many people are going to be affected. I know they're talking about reforming the way pension credit is administered and perhaps people that might fall in the net might not in the end.

I know you're saying it's a group of people and perhaps it might be a minority. It's unclear to me how many people are going to be affected. I know they're talking about reforming the way pension credit is administered and perhaps people that might fall in the net might not in the end.

But I do think there's also something about like, you know, we've been talking a lot about the feeling of hope and the feeling of security and those things that you want from a government, particularly from a Labour government. I was having a chat with a neighbour of mine He's in his 90s now, and he's obviously been retired and been on a pension for ages, over 20 years, right?

But I do think there's also something about like, you know, we've been talking a lot about the feeling of hope and the feeling of security and those things that you want from a government, particularly from a Labour government. I was having a chat with a neighbour of mine He's in his 90s now, and he's obviously been retired and been on a pension for ages, over 20 years, right?

And so he was saying that when you first go onto your pension, you get told how much you're going to get. But what you can never anticipate is how much prices will increase for everything. At the time, you might think, well, hey, that's fantastic. And then 15 years later, you've got no means of earning more. And that feeling of... Being scared, being afraid, worrying about stuff.

And so he was saying that when you first go onto your pension, you get told how much you're going to get. But what you can never anticipate is how much prices will increase for everything. At the time, you might think, well, hey, that's fantastic. And then 15 years later, you've got no means of earning more. And that feeling of... Being scared, being afraid, worrying about stuff.

That is a feeling that, you know, many families, younger people have experienced. I've experienced it in my own life. I don't really wish it upon anyone. So I don't really see how more people experiencing that is an improvement.