SIR Keir Starmer has opened the door to a screeching U-turn on his hated winter fuel cut.
After months of plummeting poll ratings and a shock by-election defeat to Reform, the PM refused to rule out raising the £11,500 income threshold at which pensioners are no longer eligible for the allowance.
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On a visit to Albania, pressed on whether he is poised for a U-turn, Sir Keir said: “Look, we took difficult decisions, but the right decisions, at the budget, including the decision that we took on winter fuel.
“As a result of those decisions. I mean, they were taken specifically with the purpose of stabilising the economy.
“And I think we’re seeing the evidence of that in the interest rate cuts and the growth figures.
“So, they were difficult decisions but they were right decisions.”
It comes as the PM is facing a revolt of around 170 MPs, furious at disability benefit cuts.
The Sun understands almost 200 backbenchers have signed their name to a secret letter calling on the PM not to press ahead with slashing the health element of Universal Credit and tightening personal independence payment rules.
Among them 60 say they are ready to actively defy whips and vote against the cuts.
But if all the MPs who have signed the letter follow through and vote against the plans, it could wipe out Sir Keir’s majority and trigger the biggest rebellion of his leadership.
Parliamentary aides, who are members of the government, are considering resigning over the issue, The Sun understands.
They have also privately expressed outrage at the PM’s immigration crackdown and refusal to remove the two-child benefit cap.
But dozens of the angry MPs are still fearful of making their concerns public.
The letter sent to whips was not emailed to any politicians amid fears the names of signatories would be leaked to the media.
Instead, MPs are shown the content of the letter on an iPhone and then asked if they want to sign.
One of the organisers behind the document told The Sun: “It is a private letter and many of the signatories wish it to remain so.”
Amid concern about growing resentment on the backbenches, Downing Street has now delayed plans to surrender the Chagos Island to Mauritius, amid fears of a backlash over the multi-billion pound cost.
Government sources said an agreement with Mauritius was “ready to sign” – but has been pushed back due to fears of a “toxic” backlash while welfare is slashed.
Responding to the move, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: “Labour’s desperate plan to surrender the Chagos Islands will cost British taxpayers billions and put our security at risk.
“With China getting closer to Mauritius, Keir Starmer and David Lammy‘s failure to defend British interests is disgraceful.
“When Labour negotiates, Britain loses.”
It comes as new polling by YouGov on Wednesday found that Sir Keir’s net favourability rating has sunk to -46, the lowest level ever recorded.
While 23 per cent of Britons currently have a favourable view of the PM, two thirds have a negative perception.
Among Labour voters, favorability towards Sir Keir plummeted 17 points to just 50 per cent.
Meanwhile, opinions of Nigel Farage have improved among the public.
A third of Brits now have a favourable view of the Reform leader, up five points from mid-April and the highest since he took over leadership of the party last June.
