Labour's winter fuel payment axe branded 'disgrace' as new rules come into force

Labour's axing of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners has been branded a "disgrace" as the new rules come into force today.

Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly warned the move to limit the allowance to only the country's poorest pensioners was an "unbelievably foolish choice".

The shadow home secretary added it was "appalling" that more than two-thirds of older people with disabilities will miss out on the payments.

Writing in the Daily Express, Mr Cleverly said: "Stripping millions of pensioners of their winter fuel payment, without a democratic mandate, is an unbelievably foolish choice.

"The changes coming into force mean that a shocking 71% of pensioners with a disability will lose payments; an appalling figure.

"By their own admission, the Labour government have not done a full impact assessment and we are now seeing figures that show that hundreds of thousands of people will miss out on support they are entitled to.

"Labour are following a plan that is ill-thought-through and based on nothing. Their blatant attempt to sneak it through is nothing short of a disgrace.

"We left them with the fastest economic growth in the G7 and inflation down. To target pensioners in order to pay union bosses is nothing short of a national embarrassment."

He added: "We don’t know what they will do next, but you can be sure it’ll cost everyday hardworking people who deserve much better."

The Government faced criticism for quietly slipping out data on axing winter fuel payments last Friday night, days after the policy was rammed through in a crunch Commons vote.

Dennis Reed, director of the Silver Voices campaign group, said: "What an utter disgrace it is that these regulations have been railroaded through, depriving 10 million older people, including many with disabilities and chronic medical conditions, from the essential winter fuel payment.

"The Chancellor is fully aware that more people may die this winter because of her decision, and she knows that the cut-off point for the payment is set far too low.

"She now knows too that at least three-quarters of a million older people will not claim the pension credit they are entitled to, for a variety of reasons including the complexity and intrusiveness of the application process.

"Those who voted for this appalling decision should crawl under a stone in shame."

Downing Street has said that a full impact assessment of the change has not been carried out.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures, published in response to a freedom of information request, are based on "equality analyses" which "are not impact assessments and not routinely published alongside secondary legislation".

They showed that around 71% of those with a disability and 83% of those aged 80 or over will now miss out on the allowance.

And around 880,000 people currently set to be stripped of the payment this year are entitled to pension credit but have not claimed it.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves sparked an intense backlash in July when she announced that previously universal winter fuel payments worth up to £300 would be limited to only those on pension credit.

She blamed the controversial move on a £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they have denied.

The policy, which means 10 million pensioners will lose out, is expected to save about £1.3 billion in the first year.

But it has come under fire from opposition parties, charities, unions and even some Labour MPs.

Campaigners have warned struggling pensioners will be forced to choose between heating and eating this winter as temperates begin to drop.

Critics have also pointed out the low take-up of pension credit and raised fears about the impact on OAPs who are just above the threshold for the benefit.

Meanwhile, bumper pay offers have been made to striking public sector workers at the same time pensioners are facing the cut.

And energy bills are due to get more expensive again from next month after regulator Ofgem hiked the price cap.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saw off a Labour rebellion to push the changes through the Commons last Tuesday.

MPs voted 348 to 228 to cut the seasonal payment for most pensioners, rejecting a Conservative bid for the policy to be blocked.

One Labour backbencher, Jon Trickett, opposed the Government in supporting the Tory motion, while 52, including seven ministers, had no vote recorded.

A dozen of those did not have permission to miss the vote and are thought to have abstained in protest.

The Daily Express is crusading for the Government to U-turn and keep the payments for all pensioners.

A petition by the Silver Voices campaign group for older people has racked up more than 100,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, an Age UK petition has topped half a million, while another by the 38 Degrees campaign organisation has passed 350,000 names.

The Liberal Democrats, whose autumn conference in Brighton is underway, warned the cuts are a "historic mistake".

Work and pensions spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “This new Government is set to make a historic mistake today as millions of pensioners see their winter fuel payments cut.

"Scrapping winter fuel payments for most pensioners including many in poverty is completely wrong. It’s not too late for ministers to change course.

"Liberal Democrats will fight tooth and nail to reverse this cut. We'll be using our record number of MPs in Parliament to hold the Government to account on this issue and fight for a fair deal for pensioners."

The DWP was contacted for comment.