£300 Winter Fuel Payment could be saved for 'all' state pensioners within 48 hours

A motion put forward by trade unions urging the Labour Party government to U-turn on the policy to restrict the £300 payments to only the poorest pensioners was due to take place today at the gathering in Liverpool.

Labour has delayed a vote on the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance cuts at the party's conference. A motion put forward by trade unions urging the Labour Party government to U-turn on the policy to restrict the £300 payments to only the poorest pensioners was due to take place today at the gathering in Liverpool.

But it has now been pushed back to Wednesday. Led by Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), trade unions are expected to force a debate and vote at conference later this week to condemn the decision.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to address unhappiness within Labour ranks over the decision to cut the payment, arguing the government had no choice given the tight fiscal situations. The initial wording of the motion calls on the government to U-turn in the October budget by “reversing all cuts to the winter fuel allowance”.

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Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said the cut was “politically inept” and “out of touch”, and said the government would face the blame when people died over the winter. He told a fringe meeting at conference: “Ordinary voters are baffled by the decision. Within the first few weeks of the government, there are some worrying trends.”

In an interview with the Financial Times, North West Mayor Andy Burnham said “there are a number of ‘growth tests’ looming – not least on rail infrastructure – and we will find out soon whether the Treasury is able to transform itself into the growth department”.

He added that the Treasury “needed to understand that growth came from giving hope and planting seeds, rather than saying no to everything”. One union official said: "It is weak politics and shows a lack of leadership. It should be debated today."

Another official blasted Labour as being "tin-eared". Unite leader Sharon Graham said the government’s first steps were critical and that about-turns were “absolutely necessary”. “Dying in an early ditch for policies most people hate is not only silly politics, but it can also set the public mood,” she wrote.