No 10 reviewing winter fuel payment cut after Labour slump in local elections

Government fears further electoral losses from unpopular policy as well as from planned 5bn of benefits cuts

Downing Street is reviewing its controversial winter fuel payment cut amid growing anxiety at the top of government that the policy could wreak serious electoral damage, the Guardian has been told.

Keir Starmer's senior team has been discussing for several weeks how to handle public anger over the policy, which bubbled over in last Thursday's local elections, when the party lost two-thirds of the council seats it was defending.