Rachel Reeves Doubles Down On Winter Fuel Cut Despite Threat Of Labour Rebellion

The Government is not budging on its decision to cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners despite unease within the Parliamentary Labour Party.

On Tuesday, MPs will vote on the new Labour Government's contentious move to remove the winter fuel allowance for who are not entitled to pension benefits. The support is currently available to all pensioners, but Reeves and Starmer have decided to make it means tested.

Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has repeatedly said that she does not want to take this step but has to in order to help fill what the Government describes as a £22bn "black hole" in the public finances left by the previous Conservative administration.

This is a message she reiterated in a meeting with Labour MPs on Monday night.

“There are more difficult decisions to come," she told a room full of Labour MPs.

"I don't say that because I relish it. I don't, but it is a reflection of the inheritance that we face.

"So, when members are looking at where to apportion blame, when pensioners are looking where to apportion blame, I tell you where the blame lies. It lies with the Conservatives and the reckless decisions that they made."

Speaking earlier in the day, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesperson said there was no dissent in Cabinet when they discussed the issue in a meeting on Monday morning.

However, Starmer and Reeves face the prospect of a back bench rebellion when the decision is put to a House of Commons vote on Tuesday afternoon.

Seventeen MPs have signed an early day motion opposing the cuts to the benefit at the time of writing. Signatories include prominent left-wing Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis. Some MPs who have also signed it like John McDonnell and Zarah Sultana currently