£14.2bn Sizewell splurge announced as Labour faces winter payment U-turn pressure
Britain is set to pour a staggering £14.2 billion into building a new nuclear power station as Keir Starmer signals a dramatic U-turn on his controversial winter fuel payment cuts that sparked fury among pensioners and his own MPs.
The Prime Minister admitted he had “listened” to the avalanche of criticism over stripping winter fuel payments from millions of elderly Britons, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepared to unveil the eye-watering nuclear investment at a trade union conference today.
Meanwhile, the political circus continued at Reform UK, where former TV presenter Dr David Bull was unveiled as the party’s new chairman – just days after his predecessor Zia Yusuf sensationally quit in a blazing row over burqas before performing an embarrassing U-turn 48 hours later.
NUCLEAR BILLIONS AS PENSIONERS SHIVER
In a move that will raise eyebrows given the government’s claims about a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances, Reeves will today confirm the massive investment in Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk – marking the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation.
The funding takes the total government commitment to the project to £17.8 billion, with the twin-reactor plant expected to power six million homes when operational.
This Labour Government is launching a new era of nuclear power here in Britain,” Reeves told the GMB Union conference in Brighton, calling it the biggest rollout of nuclear power in a generation.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband declared: “We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis.
WINTER FUEL CLIMB-DOWN LOOMS
The nuclear splurge comes as Starmer appeared to cave to mounting pressure over his widely-criticised decision to strip winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer told MPs: “I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners.
In what amounts to a humiliating climbdown, he added: “As the economy improves, we want to ensure that more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payment… we will look at the threshold, but that will have to be part of a fiscal event.”
The U-turn signals comes after Labour’s bruising local election results in May, where the party lost two-thirds of council seats it was defending – with the winter fuel cuts blamed for much of the backlash on doorsteps.
‘BOB THE BUILDER’ REFORM IN CHAOS
Adding to Westminster’s theatrical drama, Reform UK unveiled Dr David Bull as its new chairman following last week’s extraordinary meltdown that saw Zia Yusuf quit before sheepishly returning to a different role.
The 56-year-old former TV doctor, who previously presented shows including “Most Haunted Live!”, couldn’t resist a dig at his supernatural past, joking: “I’m going to use my skills in the paranormal to dig around and find skeletons in the closet of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
Bull’s appointment comes after millionaire businessman Yusuf, 38, dramatically resigned as chairman last Thursday, declaring: “I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time.
BURQA BUST-UP TRIGGERS EXODUS
The extraordinary resignation came just hours after Yusuf branded new Reform MP Sarah Pochin “dumb” for asking Keir Starmer about banning the burqa – despite it not even being party policy.
Pochin had asked the PM during her debut at Prime Minister’s Questions whether he would consider banning face coverings “in the interests of public safety.
Yusuf, a self-described “British Muslim patriot”, hit back on social media: “I do think it’s dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn’t do.”
Within hours, he had quit – only to perform a spectacular U-turn over the weekend, admitting he had made an “error” and returning to lead the party’s new “UK DOGE” unit, mimicking Elon Musk’s cost-cutting department in America.
FARAGE’S ‘TERRIFIC’ NEW MAN
Nigel Farage, attempting to put a brave face on the chaos, praised Bull’s appointment with characteristic bombast: “He comes to the chairman’s role with terrific verve, energy, enthusiasm. It’s going to be great fun!”
Bull, who joined Farage’s Brexit Party as an MEP in 2019 and served as Reform’s deputy leader until last year, promised to bring stability after what insiders described as Yusuf’s tumultuous reign.
At Tuesday’s press conference, even Yusuf seemed relieved, saying he was “hugely excited” about Bull taking over and adding: “I wholeheartedly congratulate him and I know he’s going to do an incredible job for us.”
NUCLEAR QUESTIONS REMAIN
Critics have slammed the Sizewell C investment as “HS2 mark II”, with campaign group Stop Sizewell C questioning: “With the continued secrecy about Sizewell C’s total cost, how can voters decide whether the 18 billion pounds pledged is a good use of their money?
The project, led by French state-owned EDF, has already faced years of delays and uncertainty. Its sister project at Hinkley Point C has suffered massive cost overruns and is currently expected to cost up to £34 billion – far exceeding initial estimates.
PRESSURE MOUNTS ON PM
The juxtaposition of billions for nuclear while pensioners face losing winter heating support has not been lost on critics.
Conservative MP Mel Stride previously asked Labour politicians to “look to your conscience” over the winter fuel cuts that he said would lead to hardship for millions of elderly people.
Even Labour’s own Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has joined calls to rethink the controversial move, while veteran MP Diane Abbott warned the cuts could have a political effect “akin to Margaret Thatcher’s poll tax.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
With Starmer promising changes to winter fuel payment thresholds at a future “fiscal event” – likely the June spending review or autumn Budget – the government faces an awkward period of defending a policy it appears ready to abandon.
Meanwhile, Reform UK attempts to steady the ship under Bull’s leadership after a week of chaos that saw racist abuse directed at Yusuf and questions about whether a party built on anti-immigration rhetoric can be led by the son of Sri Lankan immigrants.
As one Westminster wag put it: “Bob the Builder might be able to fix it, but can Dr Bull cure Reform’s identity crisis?
The coming weeks will test whether Starmer’s nuclear gamble pays off – and whether Reform can move past its internal dramas to capitalise on Labour’s winter of discontent.
