BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay took on Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting in a debate over the winter fuel payments.

BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay welcomed Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting onto the news programme, with the presenter clearly being determined to bring up winter fuel payments.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is said to be considering a partial U-turn on winter fuel payments following the party’s huge loss in last week’s elections. The changes were estimated to bring 10,000 pensioners into poverty around the UK, and with their popularity plummeting, reports claimed Labour were seeing if they could raise the threshold.

Kay jumped in and scoffed: “You’re right in there in government, you’re very close with Starmer and Reeves, you’re right in there aren’t you?”

Streeting started laughing as he replied: “I’m trying desperately hard and failing to not get drawn into speculation on the future of this policy, I like to give straight answers to questions but I genuinely can’t speculate on future policies, we are day by day, delivering the promises we made to you at the last election, things are moving in the right direction, but we know that people won’t necessarily be feeling those changes yet, and what is why the PM said we need to go further and faster,” as he gave examples of where the government were hoping improvements were being made around the country.