Tory MPs in last-ditch plea to halt 'callous' cut for vulnerable elderly

CONSERVATIVES have made a final plea for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reverse "cruel" winter fuel payment cuts before today's Budget.

- Katie Harris

At the Treasury yesterday they handed in a petition signed by over 250,000 people demanding a U-turn.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said: "It is clear from the overwhelming support for this petition there is deep anger about this cruel cut.

"Labour must stop this appalling policy at once. The basic unfairness of giving out billions to their union paymasters whilst removing £300 from many pensioners on £11,500, forcing them to choose between heating and eating, is completely unacceptable.

"The Budget is the big opportunity now to reverse this callous policy. I hope for the sake of vulnerable pensioners this winter that Rachel Reeves does the right thing."

Tory leadership candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick slammed Labour over the policy, which restricts the cold-weather payment to those on pension credit.