Reeves can loosen Britain’s purse strings: she just needs to think outside the Treasury box | Philip Inman

The chancellor claims she needs to shave pennies from all departments, but there are better options for dealing with the £22bn funding hole

Pressure is building on Rachel Reeves to prevent some of the UK’s poorest pensioners being hit by restrictions on the winter fuel allowance. A plan to scrap the subsidy for all but those who claim pension credit, saving the exchequer £1.4bn, is under attack from opposition parties, trade unions and many inside Labour’s ranks.

So far, the chancellor has resisted calls to reinstate the allowance of up to £300 a year – or even to make more of an effort to ensure only the richest pensioners lose the payment, implying that she needs all the savings to help close a £22bn gap.

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