CHANCELLOR TOLD 'IT'S NOT TOO LATE' FOR U-TURN ON WINTER FUEL

Express takes the fight for pensioners directly to Downing Street

- Steph Spyro and Katie Harris

RACHEL Reeves was last night told it is not too late to save the winter fuel payment in tomorrow's Budget.

Silver Voices campaigner Dennis Reed and the Daily Express yesterday handed a petition of nearly 150,000 names to No10 calling for the controversial cut to be reversed.

The Chancellor has been hit with a backlash for limiting the payment to the poorest pensioners. Reform leader Nigel Farage and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride came to the petition hand-in to show their support for the Express's crusade.

Mr Stride said of Ms Reeves: "The Budget is upon us...this is her opportunity now to unravel this disastrous policy that is seeing millions of pensioners affected this winter.

"A lot of pensioners are now going to have to make that choice between heating or eating. So the message is 'Rachel, you've got your chance on Wednesday with the Budget. Row back on this policy'.

"It's not too late. Of course, the Budget would be the ideal opportunity for the Chancellor to stand up and say 'We've got this wrong'. This is her chance to think again."

Mr Farage, MP for Clacton, said there was a "great feeling of upset" over the Government stripping fuel payments from most pensioners.

He said: "There are an awful lot of pensioners out there who are desperately worried."