Fears voiced millions of pensioners could lose free bus travel in Budget

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure to rule out axeing free bus travel for pensioners. Tory critics are demanding he reassure people such a move will not happen - but the PM has so far been tight-lipped.

Millions of state pensioners are still reeling from the unexpected announcement by the new Labour Government that Winter Fuel Payments will only be issued to around 1.5 million people this year, in an attempt to plug a £22 billion 'black hole' in public finances. This means that approximately 10 million pensioners who do not receive income-related benefits such as Pension Credit will miss out on the annual heating bill assistance worth between £100 and £300.

In a recent Prime Minister's Questions session, Conservative MP Louie French labelled the cuts to Winter Fuel Payments as a "disgraceful political decision". He said the Prime Minister needed to "rule out scrapping concessionary travel fares and Council Tax discounts, which also help millions of pensioners across the UK" - and other Tories are also worried.

However, Sir Keir Starmer chose not to directly answer these questions. He responded instead with: "I am not going to pre-empt the Budget. It will all be set out in due course."

Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have hinted at further cuts to restore economic balance in government finances, but have not specified where these might occur. There is growing speculation that the Autumn Budget on October 30 could see changes to Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, the ISA allowance and the personal savings allowance, reports the Daily Record.

Council Tax is another area that could see changes, as reported by The Telegraph. Likewise, concerns have been raised over continued commitments to free bus