Winter fuel payment latest: Starmer and Reeves face Tuesday showdown with rebels as MPs vote on divisive cut
MPs will vote on Tuesday afternoon on the government’s plans to cut the winter fuel allowance for around 10 million people.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the decision in July as part of measures to fill what she called a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances.
The policy has faced criticism from many Labour MPS, but Sir Keir Starmer said Labour must “secure the foundations” of the economy.
Sir Keir said: “If you’re asking whether I recognise it’s a tough decision I absolutely recognise the tough decision. If you’re asking, would I want to make this decision, the answer is no, but I did not want to inherit a £22bn, and I’m not prepared to walk past that.”
Some 17 Labour MPs have signed a motion put forward by Neil Duncan-Jordan calling on the government to delay implementing the cut.
On Monday, the president of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton, Matt Wrack, warned that a second wave of austerity will boost the rise of the far right in Britain’s left-behind communities and spoke out against the winter fuel allowance cut.
