The UK government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has faced significant criticism for not conducting an impact assessment regarding the means-testing of winter fuel payments, which will drastically reduce the number of recipients from approximately 10.8 million to about 1.5 million. Starmer confirmed there is no report on the potential consequences of this policy change, despite warnings that it could adversely affect vulnerable elderly individuals. The Downing Street spokesperson stated that while some statistical evaluations were done, no specific assessment on health impacts or risks to pensioners was carried out. Critics, including Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, have accused the government of hiding the implications of this decision, with fears it could lead to increased illness and mortality among affected pensioners. The government argues that low-income pensioners can still receive support through pension credit, but this does not address the lack of comprehensive analysis regarding the policy's broader impacts. Overall, the situation raises serious concerns about the government's commitment to protecting its most vulnerable citizens amidst fiscal challenges.