Scores of MPs could refuse to back Starmer over cut in fuel payments

PM urges backbenchers to support measure he accepts is 'unpopular'

- Peter Walker

Up to 50 Labour MPs could refuse to back controversial plans to cut the winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners despite Keir Starmer urging backbenchers to get behind a measure he has conceded is "unpopular".

The prime minister made clear in a major interview yesterday that he expected his MPs to support the money-saving plan when it was put to a Commons vote tomorrow.

Few are expected to vote against - but dozens are believed to be considering abstaining or being absent, sources told the Guardian.

Scottish National party amendment on the two-child benefit cap, rebelling over the winter fuel allowance is expected to bring the same consequences - although neither Starmer nor No 10 would be drawn on this.

"I'd expect the vast majority of anyone who does rebel to abstain, and remain inside the tent," one Labour MP said. "Abstention is the new rebellion. It's a question of defining what Rebels say the numbers in their dissent is, and it's probably better to ranks are hard to predict.

After seven Labour MPs had the whip suspended in July for voting for do this than to jump off a cliff." Although there is no chance of the vote being lost, a significant number of absences would indicate the extent of disquiet over a policy many rebels fear could lose the party votes, and one which another MP described as "a shitshow".

In July the government announced that the winter fuel allowance - a benefit worth as much as £300 for a household with at least one member aged over 80 would be meanstested to plug a £22bn "black hole" in the public finances. The number in England and Wales who receive it will fall from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving £1.5bn a year.

Tomorrow's vote was triggered by the Conservatives formally opposing the plan to strip the payment from all but the poorest pensioners.