Keir Starmer faces crunch vote as union demands winter fuel payment U-turn

Sir Keir Starmer faces a showdown with unions tomorrow after being accused of "picking the pockets" of pensioners by axing the winter fuel payment.

Unite, which will stage a demonstration at Labour's conference in Liverpool on Monday, is set to force a vote on reversing the government's decision to scrap the lifeline for up to 10 million pensioners.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Unison and the Communication Workers Union are expected to support the calls for a U-turn ahead of Rachel Reeves' budget next month.

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, has slammed the Chancellor's decision as "cruel", "embarrassing" and a "and a "mis-step".

She said: "There's going to be a demonstration of Unite's retired members outside the Labour conference tomorrow afternoon.

"So the conference should take note of the voice of the people. This decision to make the cuts to the winter fuel allowance has confused millions.

"How can it be that the first action of a new Labour government is to attack the country's poor pensioners?

"Keir has said the tough choices should fall on the broadest shoulders. Good. What about a wealth tax on the mega rich instead of picking the pockets of the pensioners?"

The winter fuel payments of up to £300 were previously available to everyone above state pension age.

But older people will now only receive the payment if they are receiving pension credit.

The Treasury said the winter fuel changes would see the number of pensioners receiving the payments plummet from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.

Unite's motion will call on Ms Reeves to U-turn in her October 30 budget by "reversing all cuts to the winter fuel allowance".

Claire Peden, Unite organiser, said: "I do feel we've proven that people feel very strongly about this. I think they're probably trying to work out in their heads how they can do a U-turn and save face. But I would think people would forgive them."

Delegates to the party's annual conference are expected to debate Labour's economic plans tomorrow, with the decision to remove winter fuel payments set to feature.

The exact wording of the motion delegates will vote on was set to be determined tonight.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Instead of telling everyone about the tough decisions they have to make, ministers should make an easy decision - reinstate the winter fuel allowance. We expect a Labour government to tax the rich, not the poor."

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) criticised the Government's controversial cut to the winter fuel allowance as "politically inept".

He said the policy would make people believe the new Government was "out of touch" with the public.

Speaking at a fringe meeting at Labour's conference, he added: "Ordinary voters are baffled by the decision. Within the first few weeks of the Government, there are some worrying trends.

"The treatment of the question of poverty has been appalling. The approach to the two-child benefit limit and the winter fuel allowance has been politically inept."

Mr Wrack said Labour did not have to cut the winter fuel allowance, warning it would "haunt" the Government for years.

He said people would die over the winter and the Government would be blamed.

Labour's own analysis from 2017, when Sir Keir Starmer was in the Shadow Cabinet, warned that scrapping the fuel allowance for ten million pensioners would increase excess deaths by 3,850 that winter.

The Express has highlighted the plight of dozens of readers who will be forced to turn their heating down or go without food in the depths of winter because of Labour's decision.

The paper has received almost a dozen large postage sacks filled with letters from angry older people who fear for their lives.

Independent MP John McDonnell, who was suspended by Labour for voting against the Government's plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap, said: "It's not too late for the Chancellor to pull back from cutting the winter fuel allowance given the massive reaction we have seen against her proposal. If we have a cold winter and the number of excess deaths rises, people will never forgive the government ministers who forced this through."

The Government won a vote on the plan to restrict the payments to all but the poorest pensioners by 348 votes to 228 earlier this month - a majority of 120.

Fifty-two Labour MPs did not take part in the vote, including seven ministers, but it is unclear how many deliberately abstained or were absent from Parliament for another reason.

Only one Labour MP, Jon Trickett, voted against the government on what he said could "be a matter of life and death" for his constituents.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she was "sickened" by revelations of freebies to Labour's top brass while pensioners have their winter fuel payment snatched from them.

She said: "I have been sickened by revelations of 'donations'. It grates against the values of the Labour Party, created to fight for the needs of others, not self.

"Meanwhile pensioners are having their winter fuel payments taken, risking going cold. I trust conference votes to change this."

Rishi Sunak has accused Sir Keir of taking the winter fuel payment away from pensioners to give money to "highly paid train drivers".

Train drivers in London earn an average of just under £60,000 a year and will now get a 5% rise backdated for 2022 to 2023, a 4.75% rise for 2023 to 2024 and a 4.5% increase for 2024 to 2025 - a total of 14.25% over three years.

Mel Stride, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: "Labour are known for pandering to their union paymasters and now is actually a time when they should follow their advice and stop the cruel cuts to Winter Fuel Payments.

"The only reason pensioners are paying the price and being forced to choose between heating and eating is because this Labour government made the political choice to hand an inflation-busting pay rise to their union paymasters.

"Labour promised a government of service and all they're offering is a government of self-service."

Up to 880,000 pensioners who are eligible for pension credit do not currently claim it and therefore will not receive it.

The government has worked with charities, local authorities and broadcasters to ensure as many of those eligible as possible receive the benefit and the winter fuel payment this winter.

A Labour spokeswoman said: "The Conservatives crashed the economy, leaving a £22 billion black hole in public finances. They made commitments they couldn't pay for, covered it up and ran away.

"Labour will never play fast and loose with the public finances. We are committed to giving pensioners the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. That is why we are protecting the triple lock with the state pension set to increase by £1700 over the course of parliament."

• The Express will continue to champion pensioners' concerns over the axing of the winter fuel payment. To share your story, please email steph.spyro@reachplc.com