Winter Fuel Allowance U turn

[Elwood Blues]

All pensioners with taxable income of less than £35,000 will get the winter fuel allowance from next winter.

But has the damage to Labour already been done?

[the other bob wilson]

All pensioners with taxable income of less than £35,000 will get the winter fuel allowance from next winter.

But has the damage to Labour already been done?

Yep, I think so.

[jon1959]

All pensioners with taxable income of less than £35,000 will get the winter fuel allowance from next winter.

But has the damage to Labour already been done?

Yes

[Eric Cartman]

All pensioners with taxable income of less than £35,000 will get the winter fuel allowance from next winter.

But has the damage to Labour already been done?

Who knows? Time will tell I suppose. I'd imagine it will turn a few people and maybe it's far enough from an election that people won't even care/remember.

Significant in the sense that this government was obviously determined to the end the cycle of policy announcement -- U-turn which became so regular in the last 7 years of the conservative governments. They have buckled and now everyone will think they can force a U-turn on everything.

In terms of the policy, not keen on the idea of a universal benefit based on age. I don't think this change satisfies my inclination that benefits should be provided based upon need so I am not a fan.

[Dorcus]

All pensioners with taxable income of less than £35,000 will get the winter fuel allowance from next winter.

But has the damage to Labour already been done?

Without a doubt. Sensible and equitable idea, administrated abominably.

[JamesWales]

Damage done in terms of timing more than anything. They had just been elected and had the wind in the sails and the goodwill that comes with it. They used that credit up straight away on this and a couple of other things.

I don't think people were that enthusiastic about Labour anyway. The last General Election win was well described as their support being "a mile wide and an inch deep". At best I think people thought, "well, they'll be better than the Tories", but this policy demonstrably was worse and so I think it instantly annoyed people, probably more than the actual impact of the policy change itself.

All that said, they've probably struck the right balance now and whilst that good will has gone, I don't think it can be used as a reason to actively oppose the party any more. Their opponents will keep referring to it of course but I think the issue will largely go away now. Replaced by something else no doubt.

[Eric Cartman]

Damage done in terms of timing more than anything. They had just been elected and had the wind in the sails and the goodwill that comes with it. They used that credit up straight away on this and a couple of other things.

I don't think people were that enthusiastic about Labour anyway. The last General Election win was well described as their support being "a mile wide and an inch deep". At best I think people thought, "well, they'll be better than the Tories", but this policy demonstrably was worse and so I think it instantly annoyed people, probably more than the actual impact of the policy change itself.

All that said, they've probably struck the right balance now and whilst that good will has gone, I don't think it can be used as a reason to actively oppose the party any more. Their opponents will keep referring to it of course but I think the issue will largely go away now. Replaced by something else no doubt.

Until the sequel comes to the cinemas..

WFA 2 - the frozen threshold

I don't even really know who their opponents are anymore, the left of the labour party wanted it universal, the right wanted it universal, the lib dems wanted it universal.

Everyone is shit scared of affecting the richest age-based cohort in British history who are quite ready and willing to pull up the drawbridge behind them.

[North Cardiff Blue]

All pensioners with taxable income of less than £35,000 will get the winter fuel allowance from next winter.

But has the damage to Labour already been done?

Penalise savers and people who put money away for their own futures.

That's worse than it was.

They don't give a flying shit for the pensioners, they just know they were going to be voted out and thought what can we do, absolutely clueless.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Yes

Yes even the daftest "my Dad voted Labour, so I will" voter knows the truth.

[Alfresco]

£200 per household or £300 if you're over eighty. So they've cut it by £300 per household.

[the other bob wilson]

£200 per household or £300 if you're over eighty. So they've cut it by £300 per household.

I used to get £200 per year.

[Wales-Bales]