Rachel Reeves announces winter fuel payments face axe – live

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt is now hitting back at Rachel Reeves after she set out the “huge cover up” the Tories left in public finances.

The Tory MP said: “Today she will fool absolutely none to lay the grounds for tax rises.”

The chancellor has confirmed she is ending universal winter fuel payments, which are currently paid to all pensions.

She said those not receiving pension credits or other means tested benefits will not receive winter fuel payments from this year onwards.

Under the previous plans, those born before September 25, 1957, could have received between £250 and £600 to help pay for the heating over the winter period.

Most received the grant, which was available to those on a State Pension, Pension Credit, Carers Allowance and Income Support.

Ending her statement to the House of Commons, the chancellor has accused the Conservative government of “spending like there was no tomorrow”.

She said: “After the chaos of Partygate, when trust in politics was they gave false hope to Britain.

“When people were already being hurt of their cost of living crisis, they promised solutions they knew they could never be paid for. Roads that will never be built, public transport that will never arrive, hospitals that will never treat a single patient.

“They spent like there was no tomorrow because they knew that someone else will pick up the bill.”

Rachel Reeves has confirmed Boris Johnson’s pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is set to be scrapped.

In a move to save up £3billion from public spending, she said only one new hospital was opened patients and only six are under construction.

The chancellor confirmed a complete review will be carried out into the programme.

Ms Reeves said there will be no reform to adult social care charges as it will not be possible.

Rachel Reeves has cancelled Rishi Sunak’s reforms to A-Levels to save money.

In October last year, Mr Sunak announced his plan to scrap A-levels and replace it with a new qualification called the Advanced British Standard (ABS) aimed at creating the “best education system in the western world”.

The former prime minister told the Conservative party conference last year he would merge A levels and technical T-levels into the brand new ABS to create “parity of esteem” between academic and technical subjects.

But Mr Sunak’s plan was immediately dismissed as “pie in the sky” by teaching unions – after Downing Street admitted that it may take 10 years to introduce.

Under the plan, sixth formers would be required to study five subjects rather than three under the new ABS qualification.

Ms Reeves said the plans would costs nearly £200 million next year, and Mr Sunak had not put any money aside to pay for it.

Winter fuel payments for some pensioners will be scrapped, the chancellor has confirmed.

The move means that those not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the winter fuel payment from this year onwards.

Ms Reeves told the Commons: “Those not in receipt of pension credit or certain other means tested benefits will no longer received the winter fuel payment from this year onward.

“The government will continue to provide winter fuel payments worth £200 to households receiving pension credit, or £300 to those receiving them with someone over the age of 80.”

Rachel Reeves has announced that a £150m investment fund announced by Jeremy Hunt last year has been scrapped as no projects were supported.

On leveling up, she claimed her Treasury audit found £1billion of “unfunded transport projects” from the Tories that will now be reviewed.

Ms Reeves claimed these include the Stonehenge tunnel on the A303, and the A27 Arundel bypass.

The restoring our railways scheme will also be stopped as there was no money for them.

She added the sale of the government’s owned NatWest shares will be stopped by 2025/2026.

The chancellor has announced public departments will have to save up a total sum of £3bilion to make up for the blackhole in public spending.

She said: “I ask all departments to find savings to absorb as much of this as possible at least £3billion.

“I will work with them to find savings ahead of the Autumn budget including to stop non-essential spending on consultancy and communications.

“I am taking action to find two per cent savings in their back savings costs.”

The chancellor has accused the previous government of having not enough money to support Ukraine.

She said spending on military support to Ukraine did not have sufficient money set aside.

But promised Labour will continue to honour the promises made.