AXING OF WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS WAS 'CRUEL PLANNED BETRAYAL'

THE Labour Party "clearly planned to betray" pensioners before the election, a veteran Tory MP claimed last night.

- Katie Harris, Giles Sheldrick

Andrew Rosindell said the "cruel" decision to scrap winter fuel payments for around 10 million older people was not made recently.

In a warning ahead of a Commons vote on the proposals tomorrow, he added there will be "no regard" for OAPS under the new government. Writing in today's Daily Express, Mr Rosindell said: "It is a vindictive move by the Labour Party, who blame this decision on the economic black hole which has magically appeared since taking office.

"It is highly suspect the 2024 Labour manifesto was the first in 14 years to make no mention of the winter fuel payment at all.

"It is entirely obvious to all this was not a decision made recently.

"Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves clearly planned to betray our pensioners long before July 4.

"It is a heartless move by the Left to abandon our elderly, struggling to keep warm this winter, but at the same time, hand over inflation-busting pay rises to the public sector to appease union masters.

"It seems that in this new Labour era there will be no regard for the older generation." Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride warned that pensioners "will not forget this in a hurry". He told the Express: "Labour MPs have an opportunity to stand up to Sir Keir Starmer, who seems determined to leave vulnerable pensioners in the cold, and vote against his cruel plans.

"Not backing our vote would be a slap in the face to 10 million pensioners who will miss out this winter. Pensioners forced to choose between heating and eating will not forget this in a hurry if Labour MPs don't see sense." It comes as the Prime Minister admitted his Government will be "unpopular" due to decisions it has to make to plug what he claims is a £22billion black hole in the public purse left by the Conservatives.

Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: "We're going to have to be unpopular. Popular decisions aren't tough, they are easy.