Starmer's first big U-turn

The News Agents

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 - 38 minutes

At PMQs, Kemi Badenoch asked Keir Starmer when “the inevitable U-turn on winter fuel" would come. Unfortunately for her, he’d already announced it. Admittedly, it was quietly done. With a bit of hedging and fudging. But if you were following closely, you’d have heard him commit to a rethink at "the next fiscal statement" to a Labour MP who stood up before the Tory leader. When will the backtrack come into force? And does this alleviate pressure on the Treasury on benefits - or just ramp it up? We speak to the Labour backbencher Brian Leishman, who wants to see his leader go further and faster.

And ahead of a major shakeup in our prisons and justice system - does the government want to reduce prisoner numbers out or principle, or is it just a result of a system on its knees? Aggie Chambre has the exclusive.

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