Sir Keir Starmer is under fire from within his own party following Labour’s narrow defeat in a byelection in Runcorn and Helsby. The loss, which saw Nigel Farage’s party edge ahead by a mere six votes, has led to calls from Labour MPs to reinstate the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance.
The policy, which had been cut under the current government, is now seen as a key factor in the disappointing result. The Runcorn byelection marks a significant moment in Starmer’s leadership, with backbench MPs accusing him of complacency during the campaign.
The criticism has extended to the cuts to social welfare benefits, particularly the Winter Fuel Allowance, which has now become a focal point for growing discontent within the party.
The Political Fallout from the Winter Fuel Allowance Cut
The decision to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance has faced fierce backlash. According to Labour’s Dan Carden, the cut was a “mistake” and has led to a growing disillusionment among voters, particularly in constituencies like Runcorn.
The allowance, which helped those most vulnerable with winter heating costs, had been a crucial benefit for many, and its removal has been framed as a failure to listen to the needs of the electorate.
Carden, leader of the Blue Labour group, argued that “the experience from this by-election was that the Winter Fuel cut was the wrong choice” and that the public had not forgiven the government for it.
In the wake of the loss, Labour’s Richard Burgon claimed the defeat was “entirely avoidable,” blaming the party’s leadership for not addressing this and other issues more effectively.
He suggested that political choices, like the Winter Fuel Allowance cut, directly contributed to the negative result. The message from Labour’s backbenchers is clear: the party leadership must listen to voters’ concerns and revisit decisions that alienate their core base.
Complacency and Campaign Strategy Under Scrutiny
The Runcorn loss has not just been attributed to policy decisions but also to the Labour Party’s campaign strategy. Several MPs have expressed disappointment with the party’s lack of engagement, accusing Starmer of complacency.
One senior Labour MP stated that the campaign was “shocking” in its lack of attention to the constituency, which led to a sense of inevitability about a Labour victory that ultimately proved unfounded.
Ayesha Hazarika, a Labour peer and former adviser, echoed this sentiment, pointing out that the campaign’s focus on issues like the NHS failed to resonate with voters, especially given the rise of Farage’s influence.
She called for a review of Labour’s strategy, especially regarding issues like the Winter Fuel Allowance. According to Hazarika, the Runcorn defeat “throw up some big questions about the strategy and the operation” of the Labour Party.
Starmer’s response to the defeat has been somewhat muted, with the Labour leader acknowledging that the result was “disappointing” but stressing that there were no “quick fixes” to address such challenges. However, the growing calls from within his own party suggest that pressure for change is mounting.
