Before the election, we knew we would face the worst economic inheritance since the Second World War. Taxes at a seventy year high. Debt through the roof. An economy only just coming out of recession. But when the Chancellor arrived at the Treasury a month ago, it became clear that there were things that she did not know. Rachel Reeves has found a £22 billion hole in this year’s finances. And despite knowing that, the Conservatives offered promises of unfunded spending commitments and tax cuts in their election manifesto.

Labour will always be honest with the public about the state of the public finances and the difficult choices ahead. The Chancellor has set out immediate steps to make savings; and outlined Labour’s long-term plan to fix the foundations of the economy.

We have hit the ground running. We’ve lifted the ban on onshore wind. We’ve created a national wealth fund to invest in and grow our economy. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has met NHS bosses to get the 40,000 extra NHS appointments we need each week and 700,000 urgent dental appointments up and running as quickly as possible. The Department for Education is kickstarting our promise to hire 6,500 new teachers and I met with the Education Secretary last week with other MPs to discuss the crisis in Special Educational Needs. We’re taking emergency measures to pull the justice system back from the brink of collapse. And, on day one, we scrapped the Rwanda gimmick and began setting up a new Border Security Command to dismantle the people-smuggling gangs for good.

Because of the dire inheritance, the Chancellor was forced to announce that pensioners who are not on Pension Credit will no longer receive Winter Fuel Payments. The government will continue to provide Winter Fuel Payments worth £200 to households receiving Pension Credit, or £300 for households in receipt of Pension Credit with someone aged over 80.

The government will take steps to make sure that everyone who is entitled to Pension Credit is claiming it. It has historically been underclaimed. If you receive a pension and your income is below a certain level, or you receive Housing Benefit, then please check your eligibility for pension credit by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

I’m going to be working with the council and others to make sure everyone gets the help they need to claim pension credit and everything they are entitled to.

These steps come alongside the wider support this Government will provide to Britain’s pensioners: protecting the pensions triple lock over the next five years; helping pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan, which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating, upgrading millions of homes; cutting waiting times in the NHS which will help many currently waiting in pain and discomfort for treatment; and delivering the economic stability which is so crucial for everyone.

The previous government refused to take decisions. They covered up the true state of the public finances. And then they called an election and essentially ran away! This government will never do that. The British people voted for change and we will make that change. It will take time, but we will fix the foundations of our economy, so we can rebuild our country and make our public services better for everyone.