UNITED WE STAND IN WINTER FUEL FIGHT

RESOLUTE campaigners remain united in the fight to keep the winter fuel payment despite Labour MPs voting through a cut for 10 million pensioners.

- Sam Lister

Just nine weeks into his Premiership, Sir Keir Starmer was hit by a revolt from backbenchers angry at his plans to take up to £300 off older people.

But Labour's massive majority meant the measures sailed through the Commons.

Ahead of the crunch vote campaign groups had joined MPs and peers from the Tories, Reform UK and the Green Party, lining up outside Parliament to support the Daily Express crusade to save the seasonal handout on which many OAPs rely.

Praised

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride later hailed the "sterling job" the Express is doing and praised campaigners Silver Voices and Age UK during the debate. After the axing of the payment for most was backed by MPs - by 348 to 228, with 53 abstentions - Silver Voices director Dennis Reed vowed to continue the fight in the run-up to next month's Budget.

The campaigner said: "It was rather sad the way in which Labour MPs were corralled to vote against their consciences.

"And it was sad to hear the Secretary of State [for pensions] Liz Kendall respond in a way that was very political. She didn't give credence to the reservations from her own side and said nothing about possible mitigations.

"It was a pyrrhic victory. There is no support for this. Charities, trade unions, the public, the other political parties, the think-tanks and much of the media are against it."

He added: "The position is unsustainable and Silver Voices will continue the fight."