PM defiant on winter fuel cut as MPs prepare to vote

Reeves also faces down MPs concerned over axe to pensioner payments

- Pippa Crerar , Jessica Elgot

The chancellor faced down would-be rebels yesterday in a private meeting of Labour MPs before today's vote on the government's controversial plan to cut the winter fuel allowance.

Rachel Reeves told a gathering of the parliamentary Labour party the move was necessary despite fears over the impact on millions of less well off pensioners - because it would help plug a £22bn gap in the public finances.

She also warned that further difficult decisions on the economy lay ahead despite dozens of Labour MPS being expected to abstain in today's vote to cut the £300-a-year payment for all but the poorest pensioners.

Government insiders ruled out any prospect of the Treasury offering concessions on the policy.

The plan is causing deep concern from figures across the party, with MPs worried that elderly constituents just above the threshold will suffer.

Keir Starmer, meanwhile, is set to stick to the same theme by restating the government's tough economic message in a speech to the Trades Union Congress, where he will say that "hard graft" is necessary to turn around the public finances.

"I have to level with you, as I did on the steps of Downing Street just over two months ago, this will take a while," he will tell the conference in Brighton today.

"It will be hard. But just as we had to do the hard graft of change in our party now we have to roll up our sleeves and change our country."

The prime minister is expected to face questions from delegates, with the winter fuel allowance likely to come up amid growing discontent among trade unions about the cut.