Starmer faces down revolt by unions and his own MPs on winter fuel cut

SIR Keir Starmer pressed ahead today with cuts to winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners in the face of fierce opposition from union chiefs and some Labour MPs.

- Nicholas Cecil

The Prime Minister sought to raise hopes by talking of “the light of a fairer Britain” but warned “tough” decisions were needed to sort out Britain’s crippled public finances.

Amid simmering unrest in Labour ranks, Sir Keir addressed the Trades Union Congress conference in Brighton before a crunch Commmons vote this afternoon on restricting winter fuel payments to those on pension credit.

He tried to defuse the anger among some delegates by stressing a “more prosperous, secure and dynamic country...is at the end of the tunnel”. But Labour rifts were laid bare with veteran Left-winger Diane Abbott launching a stinging attack on the new Government.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington told BBC radio: “It’s wrong to play games at the expense of the poorest pensioners just to look tough.”