Furious protesters demand Labour U-turn on 'cruel' winter fuel cuts outside Parliament

Furious protesters descended on Parliament today demanding "cruel" Keir Starmer U-turns on winter fuel payment cuts.

Charities and unions joined forces for the rally near Parliament Square where hundreds of people turned out.

There were chants of "Keir Starmer don’t be cruel, give us back our winter fuel" at the demonstration, which was organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) and the Unite union.

Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham, who was among speakers, told the Daily Express: "He has to reverse the decision, it's really clear.

"We're the sixth richest economy in the world and we are picking the pocket of pensioners. It's totally and utterly wrong."

Warning that the policy could lead to deaths, she added: "Leadership is also about knowing when you've made a misstep, when you've made an error, when you've made a mistake. This is a mistake, he needs to reverse it.

"The winter is coming, we haven't just had it, it's just about to come onto us and there will be people in dire straits as a result of this."

Ms Graham warned that Unite would "absolutely" be continuing its campaign against the policy.

She said: "This is the beginning, you can see how many people are here at very short notice. Unite's got 100,000 pensioners in our union, we've got a million workers who will be the pensioners of the future and we're going to do everything we can to get this U-turn."

Jan Shortt, general secretary of the NPC, hit out at the Labour Government for opting to "steal from pensioners".

She said: "This was never in the Labour Party manifesto, it came as an absolute shock and there's been no adequate explanation why the urgency to do it this year.

"We are the sixth richest economy in the world and they choose to steal from pensioners, so we're angry.

"People are already turning off their heating, they're already telling us they are thinking about cutting their care budgets.

"That is devastating, that is just so disrespectful for a generation that's worked hard, paid everything they were asked to and more."

She added: "The root cause of all this is the fact that we need a decent state pension for everybody."

John McDonnell, who lost the Labour whip after he rebelled on the two-child benefit cap, called on the PM to "think again on this urgently".

The former shadow chancellor said: "As soon as this was introduced I knew it was a mistake. I've always supported the triple lock, the winter fuel allowance, and I couldn't believe a Labour government was doing it.

"I think excess deaths may go up, it's really damaging for the Governemnt if that does happen but obviously the loss of life for those people.

"But also even if there isn't loss of life, people will be flooding our hospitals, this is just a huge mistake.

"We've got three weeks to the Budget, we hope they're going to turn it round."

Dennis Reed, director of the Silver Voices campaign group, urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to announce a U-turn at the upcoming Budget.

Referring to the exit of the Prime Minister's chief of staff Sue Gray amid a power struggle, he said: "My message is they appear to have been having a reset with the change of staff in 10 Downing Street.

"A real reset would be have a look at this policy, you know this policy is wrong, you're sticking to it stubbornly.

"I think there would be huge applause if the Government recognised it had made a mistake and did a U-turn at the Budget on October 30."

Mr Reed added of the rally: "People have travelled all over the country but people who depend most on these payments are not able to come because they're too frail perhaps, their ill health doesn't allow them to do so, or they can't afford to travel to London with the cost of public transport.

"So we're here representing all those millions around the country who will fall into fuel poverty if this policy goes through."

Can't see the poll above? Click here. 

Protesters carried signs and banners with messages which read "Robber Reeves don't let us freeze", "Freebies Starmer starves elderly" and "Cold kills old people".

Campaigners and charities met MPs for what was described as a lobby of Parliament following the protest.

Age UK, Disability Rights UK, Fuel Poverty Action and Women Against State Pension Inequality were among organisations that spoke at the gathering.

Around a dozen MPs attended including Mr McDonnell and Labour MP Rachel Maskell who gave speeches.

The Labour Government has faced a huge backlash over plans to restrict the winter fuel allowance to only OAPs on pension credit.

The annual payments of up to £300 were previously available to all pensioners regardless of income or benefits.

Sir Keir and Ms Reeves have blamed a £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they have denied.

The change, which comes as energy prices went up this month, will see around 10 million older people lose out on the payments and is expected to save around £1.3 billion in the first year.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: "Many people will be spending their fourth winter living in a cold, damp home they can't afford to heat.

"The only way to bring down everyone's bills is to help households reduce their energy use, by insulating and ventilating the UK’s housing, which is some of the leakiest in Europe. But in the meantime we must ensure we protect the most vulnerable people in our society from the high cost of energy.

"That is why campaigners have descended on Parliament this week to urge the Government to change course and revoke plans to axe the universal winter fuel payment this winter. The human cost of not doing so - and resulting pressure on an already overburdened NHS - is unthinkable."

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall came under pressure over the measure in the Commons today.

Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride pointed to Labour research from 2017 which suggested almost 4,000 pensioners would die as a result of the policy.

He said: "Does she stand by that figure of around 4,000, if not, how many premature deaths does she believe will occur as a result of this policy?"

Ms Kendall said: "In 2017 his party's manifesto promised to means-test winter fuel payments.

"So I would just say to him until party members opposite know that they have to apologise to the British people for the 200,000 extra pensioners in poverty over the last 14 years, and for a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, which we are now putting right, which has put the public finances at risk, they will remain on those seats and we will remain on these."

Speaking at a Reform press conference in Westminster, party leader Nigel Farage condemned the axing of the previously universal payments.

The Clacton MP said: "I don't think the Government even begins to understand just how wrong and unfair this seems to so many people."

The backlash over stripping pensioners of winter fuel payments comes as Sir Keir and senior Labour figures are at the centre of a freebies row after accepting tens of thousands of pounds worth of gifts and donations such as clothing and concert and sports tickets.

A Government spokesperson said: A Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.

“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take up has already seen a 152% increase in claims.

“Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”