Fuel U-turn smacks of incompetence, says ex-Labour minister

A former Labour minister from the Blair-era says the UK government's U-turn over the winter fuel allowance "smacks of incompetence".

More than three-quarters of pensioners will receive the winter fuel payment after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed she would roll back her decision to cut the benefit.

Kim Howells said the original policy was "daft" and that UK Labour ministers seemed to be "rudderless" and "floating around".

The UK government was asked for comment.