DWP Winter Fuel Payment vote could see 10 million pensioners lose up to £300 a year

Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet is said to be united behind the plans to dramatically scale back the Winter Fuel allowance, that will see 10 million pensioners lose up to £300 a year.

Downing Street has faced mounting calls, including within Labour ranks, for the Government to soften the policy. Under the move announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July, winter fuel payments will be restricted to those receiving pension credit, meaning around 10 million pensioners will lose out this winter.

Ministers are said to be 'agreed' on the importance of 'fixing the foundations of the economy' by taking tough and unpopular spending decisions, a Number 10 spokeswoman said of Monday’s meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.

READ MORE Why 1,700 criminals are being released amid overcrowding crisis in UK prisons

Asked by reporters whether there had been any dissent over the planned cut, which will see all but the country’s poorest pensioners stripped of the winter fuel payment, the spokesperson said there had been none.

“The Prime Minister opened Cabinet by stating the importance of fixing the foundations of our economy in order to carry out the Government’s mandate for change,” the spokeswoman said.

“He said that, given the scale of inheritance, this would be difficult and that tough decisions are unpopular decisions, but it is the tough decisions that will enable change for this country.”

Disavowing suggestions made by a Home Office minister on Monday’s broadcast round that the Treasury is looking at ways to mitigate the cut, No 10 said there had been no discussion of softening the impact of the policy.

It comes amid union unrest over the policy and ahead of a Commons vote on Tuesday, in which the Prime Minister is likely to suffer