But make no mistake, this is a U-turn.The decision to means test the winter fuel allowance was one of the first announcements made by Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves almost a year ago. It was intended to demonstrate both the dire state of the government's economic inheritance and the new regime's willingness to take tough decisions in response.

Keir Starmer’s double victory in securing trade deals with India and the US this week still isn’t enough to pacify restive lawmakers in the UK’s governing Labour Party.