WHAT A DISGRACE! STARMER TAKING FUEL HELP FROM THE DISABLED

LABOUR'S axing of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners has been branded a "disgrace" as the new rules come into force today.

- Katie Harris

Tory leadership contender James Cleverly also said it was truly "appalling" that more than two-thirds of older people with disabilities will miss out on the help with their bills.

Removing the payments from all but the very poorest pensioners is an "unbelievably foolish choice" that is "ill-thought through and is based on nothing," he said.

Writing exclusively in the Daily Express, Mr Cleverly says: "The changes coming into force today mean that a shocking 71% of pensioners with a disability will lose payments; an appalling figure.

"By their own admission, the Labour Government have not done a full impact assessment and we are now seeing figures that show that hundreds of thousands of people will miss out on support they are entitled to."

He continued: "Labour are following a plan that is ill-thought through and based on nothing.

"Their blatant attempt to sneak it through is nothing short of a disgrace. We left them with the fastest economic growth in the G7 and inflation down.

"To target pensioners in order to pay union bosses is nothing short of a national embarrassment."

Mr Cleverly added: "We don't know what they will do next, but you can be sure it'll cost everyday hardworking people who deserve much better."

The Government faced criticism for quietly slipping out data on axing winter fuel payments on Friday night, days after the policy passed a crunch Commons vote.