Labour Party will cut pensioners’ winter fuel payment, claims Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride

Mel Stride has accused Sir Keir Starmer of planning to cut the winter fuel payment if he wins next week’s election.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said “Labour are coming for” the allowance, which is worth up to £300 for the over-65s.

Labour’s manifesto includes no reference to the payment, in sharp contrast to Jeremy Corbyn’s last manifesto, which pledged to keep it.

It said the pensions triple lock would remain in place but concessionary bus passes and free TV licences were also not mentioned, raising fears over whether they would be retained if the Labour leader enters No 10.

A Labour Party spokesman said there were “no plans” to change the payment.

‘Retirement tax’

But Mr Stride said: “We already know Labour will hammer pensioners with their retirement tax, dragging the new state pension into income tax for the first time in British history.

“Now there can be little doubt Labour are coming for your winter fuel payment, bus passes, prescriptions and TV licences.

“Labour’s first budget is shaping up to be a dreadful attack on pensioners’ security and dignity.

“Only the Conservatives have committed to keep these lifeline benefits for pensioners so they can enjoy dignity in retirement.”

Mr Stride’s “retirement tax” refers to Labour’s refusal to copy the Tories’ pledge to increase the personal allowance in future so they do not have to pay income tax.