Labour’s radical pensions shake up – how far will they go?

Rachel Reeves has announced plans to fill a £20 billion 'black hole' in the public budget by scrapping winter fuel payments for around 10 million pensioners. The Chancellor has also announced a 22 per cent wage increase for junior doctors over a two-year period. Will this generational shake-up be popular with the public? And can Labour hold the line on the two-child benefit cap following last week's revolt? Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and former Labour advisor John McTernan.

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[IamJonny-ov]

We experienced the peak of our era, and now it is gone. Recession is tanking everything including 401K. My retirement equities portfolio of $750K is in the reds. I keep losing because of inflation. This world will fall to the corrupt rulers in the same way that Rome did. I'm sorry if you're thinking about retiring and you're worried that your pension won't be enough to meet the rising cost of living. Horrible foreign policies everywhere, bad regulatory policy, bad fiscal policy, and bad energy policy.

[robertlinge]

She could plug the hole by not giving £11.6 billion overseas green aid projects ref Millibrand.

[gardengirl]

As a pensioner and having lived through 4 Labour governments, I am horrified that anyone over 65 voted Labour because they must have known what was coming. 4.3 billion last year for migrants and they take the WFA from pensioners, despite Starmer going on record saying he would absolutely not do this. Basically he is a liar

[billricketts]

Starmer when in opposition said it was disgraceful for pensioners to be struggling with high energy costs. Having won the the election the first thing he does is remove the pensioners winter allowance payment.

[Daniel-deMerrivale]

One of the elephants in the room is the amount of tax revenues being thrown away on illegals and foreign countries. Whilst handing out approximately £14 billion in foreign aid (or even half that amount), health care for foreign nationals who arrive for treatment then disappear, and, as said, the illegals and their “needs” of free housing, hotels, food, pocket money, mobiles etc etc these mental politicians decide to try to balance the hole they created by taxing pensioners i.e. those people that have worked all their lives and paid into the system (unlike all the people who benefit but are outside of this country). Do not forget the uni party already stitched up British women by altering the pension retirement age. McTernan is unhinged, like those he ‘advises’. He will never be in the position of seeing problems when older.

[denzel]

Labour destroyed private pensions last time they were in government. They will do it again.

[michaeldonohoe]

So let's put this into context the pensioners are paying for illegal migrants.😢😮 shame on this government.

[susanmills]

What about the billions being spent on invaders who have no right to anything.

[R_McGeddon]

How many pensioners will die at the hands of the Grim Reever?

[siblej]

So she complains about the tax burden the Tories have left, and then Labour increase it?

[janekennaway]

£840 a month for rent, council tax, energy, food and clothes etc... I am a 1955 WASPI woman. How can I manage? The government fleeced me for over £50, 000. Meanwhile illegal immigrants stay warm in hotels.

[joeheaton]

Any pensioner who voted Labour this is your reward, what did Starmer say, country first party second another fuc-ing lie.

[zoefree]

The boats and illegals keep coming so what does labour do…attack the most vulnerable in society and who have already paid taxes for years 🤷‍♀️

[jerrywarren]

Absolute bollocks nobody ever gets or justifies a 22% pay increase .
This is shit labour choices

[jamesglennie]

She has just lost millions of voters who won’t forget what this devious government has done. Reform needs to be in after next election to sort out the mess that we will be in by then.

[taffyddu]

The Starmer crew are going to build 1.5 million homes in 5 years. Do the maths :- that's 1 home every 1 minute 45 seconds, working 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. CLOWNS.

[johndean]

Lets put this in to Reality. My Pension is £250 per Week. If you divide that by 40 Hours it would work out at £6.25 per hour. National Living Wage is £11.44 per Hour. So my Pension is Below what the Government call a Living Wage. Still Pay Council Tax. Energy Costs. Food Bills. Water Rates Plus Now Income Tax. And now have lost the Winter Fuel Allowance. Cannot claim Pension Credits just over the Limit. Really nice to no that the Illegals are Warm and Snug in 4 Star Hotels and Ukraine has enough Bombs While we are paying there National Debt.

[FC-PeakVersatility]

Well, having live through the last labour takeover, this was all to be expected. There'll be more to come.

[mariayeomans]

I wish I’d not voted for them. It is disgusting to take off pensioners whilst giving rich doctors 22%. How disgusting she is.

[matildamartin]

I am not a boomer. I am 90 years of age and as a child suffered the depravations of war, before this lot were born. Must be so proud of themselves !
I did not vote this lot in. I have ever voted for Labour in my life and feel so angry with the deluded fools who did. Will you never learn ?