Cold comfort

52 MPs don't vote as winter fuel payments cut bill passes. Keir tells TUC there is hope.. but times ahead will be tough

- LIZZY BUCHAN

KEIR Starmer saw off a revolt over axing winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners last night after reassuring the TUC there was "light at the end of the tunnel".

A Commons motion to cancel his plan was defeated by 348 votes to 228, a majority of 120. But 52 Labour MPs did not vote, with 12 not authorised to be absent.

Veteran Left-winger Jon Trickett was the only Labour MP to vote with the Tories, Liberal Democrats and SNP amid a growing public backlash over ditching the payment of up to £300 for 10 million pensioners.

Age UK's charity director Caroline Abrahams said 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes could suffer.

She added: "Driving through this policy will make millions of poor pensioners poorer.