Good Morning Britain host announces they're stepping down and won't return until next year
Martin Lewis has revealed he is quitting presenting Good Morning Britain for the time being and won’t be back until next year. However, the money-saving expert and presenter went out with a bang, following his fiery clash with government minister Lisa Nandy over the winter fuel payments for pensioners.
Just hours after challenging Nandy on Labour's decision cut the £300 Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners, Martin revealed to fans that he wants to focus on his own ITV show, The Martin Lewis Money Show, for the remainder of 2024. "Thanks for the hugely positive feedback about @GMB today (from most anyway) and ta to the show for having me,” he posted on X. “That's my last presenting shift til next year, as I choose not to do it while @itvMLshow is on (it's back later this month) so I can focus my TV energies on that.”
However, he didn’t rule our being back on the show as a guest in the coming months. “I'm sure I'll pop on for the odd cameo guest slot!” he added at the end of his post.
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Martin also apologised to followers for getting worked up during his interview with Nandy. He challenged her on why the government weren’t targeting pensioners who were eligible for pension credit – which would give them access to the fuel payment – by sending then letters or contacting them individually.
Martin believes many OAPs eligible for pension credit won't apply for it and will therefore miss out on the vital £300 Winter Fuel Payment. He argued: "You believe they should get pension credit and the Winter Fuel Payment, but you're not doing enough to make sure they do. You're not writing individual letters to the hardest-to-reach pensioners. There's lots you could do."
When Nandy responded that the party is reaching out to the poorest pensioners, Martin snapped: "The truth is you're not targeting them. Why aren't you writing them bloody letters?” he repeated.
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Nandy continued to defend herself saying: "We are working with a wide range of people to reach those who need help. She then added the promise, “I just want to make it clear, we are not leaving anyone high and dry."
With changes announced in July, the government confirmed that from this winter, only pensioners who claim pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Previously it was available to around 11 million people of state pension age regardless of income.
