Green Party MP Sian Berry has called out the “disappointing” turnout from Labour MPs for the crunch Winter Fuel debate.

Ms Berry, who described the policy as the “Winter Fuel Robbery”, said Labour MPs’ non-attendance is a “disappointing sign they answer only to their whips – not to their constituents or their conscience”.

The Express hears a number of Labour frontbenchers have also been slipped by the party whips, allowing them to miss the debate and vote.

Sir Edward Leigh, the Father of the House, accused the Government of issuing a “punishment beating” against pensioners by cutting the winter fuel payment.

The former Conservative minister said there should be a “serious debate” about the total package given to pensioners, noting he has previously questioned aspects of the triple lock.

He told the Commons: “It’s a very difficult debate but I do understand that the total package paid to pensioners as a proportion of gross national product must not keep increasing every year because that is the way ultimately to bankrupt the country, and we need to have a social contract between older people, like myself, and younger people, particularly in terms of housebuilding.”

Sir Edward raised concerns for people who receive a small occupational pension but are not eligible for pension credit, saying they are “looking after every penny” but will suddenly lose the winter fuel payment.

He added: “I tell you what this is all about, this is about a punishment beating.”

Sir Edward described the “so-called £22 billion black hole” as a “mere accounting device”, adding: “What the Labour Government is now trying to do is to make the political point that the Conservative Party ran the country into the ground and therefore we’ve got to punish the pensioners. It’s absolute and complete rubbish.”

Tory MP Esther McVey launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer over winter fuel payment cuts.

She said: “Who would have thought a Prime Minister not even in office for 10 weeks would be so out of touch with the public?

“Yet here we are, and yes this Prime Minister is, along with the Chancellor and the whole of his Cabinet who are going along with and supporting this cruel policy.

“The Chancellor should be under no illusion that the public knows this decision to rob millions of pensioners of the winter fuel allowance, for which the Government has no mandate, has nothing to do with economics and everything to do with cynical political calculation. The haste with which it is being done is breathtaking.”

She added: “Labour has basically declared war on pensioners which will neither be forgotten or forgiven. Our pensioners deserve better than this.”

Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on work and pensions, said: “We on these benches accept that the new Government has been left with an unenviable task of re-building our economy after the mess left by the previous government, and nobody is disputing that years of Conservative mismanagement have left the public finances in crisis.

“But this cut is simply wrong, it is wrong to strip support from many of the poorest pensioners, just as energy bills are set to rise again, it is wrong to force vulnerable elderly people to make that choice between heating and eating this winter, and it is the wrong answer to the challenges that we face.”

She added that the Government has “not properly thought through the consequences or the measures that will be available to support those most in need”.

Intervening, SNP MP Pete Wishart (Perth and Kinross-shire) said Scotland would be “disproportionally hit” by the policy due to its colder climate.

Ms Chamberlain (North East Fife) went on to say that “there is cruelty at the heart of this cut” and the Liberal Democrats will be “supporting this motion”.

Addressing Labour MPs, shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said: “Can I make an impassioned plea to those sitting opposite – look to your conscience. You know in your heart that these measures are wrong.

“You know in your heart that the party opposite has broken their promises and that these measures are going to lead to untold hardship for millions of elderly and vulnerable people right up and down this country.

“You now have an opportunity to join with us and put a stop to it.”

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride accused Labour of prioritising public sector pay rises “on the backs of vulnerable pensioners”.

Mr Stride said: “The fact that we even have a debate today is near miraculous, given the resistance from the party opposite. It is, of course, because of the scrutiny that this side of the House, this Conservative Party, is providing to this Government.”

He went on: “Of course, all politics is about choices, and what this Government has done is it has caved in to its trade union paymasters. It has settled way above inflation, junior doctors 22%, train drivers 14% and what it has done is it has stood up for the trade union paymasters on the backs of vulnerable pensioners. And that is not right.”

Mr Stride challenged Government MPs who had not received payments from trade unions to make themselves known in the Commons chamber.

He added: “If it’s not the case that the trade unions are running the Labour Party, hands up, everybody opposite who has not received some money from the trade unions.

“Hands up, anybody has not received money from the trade unions for their campaigning or their private office? One person, one person?”

As no hands went up on the Government benches Mr Stride concluded: “Therein lies the truth, the truth about who is running the Labour Party.”

Mel Stride praised the Express for doing a “sterling job” in raising awareness of the impact of winter fuel payment cuts.

The shadow work and pensions secretary told the Commons: “The fact that we even have a debate today is near miraculous given the resistance from the party opposite.

“It is of course because of the scrutiny that this side of the house, the Conservative Party, is providing to this Government.

“We know also the petitions that have been railing against these measures. Silver Voices 100,000 people, 38 Degrees a third of a million, Age UK over half a million people calling on this Government to think again.

“The press particularly the Express newspaper doing such a sterling job in bringing these matters to the attention.

“Even the trade union movement, Unite pointing a finger at this Government saying it is picking the pockets of pensioners.”

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has accused the Government of “broken promises already”.

He told the Commons: “Labour candidates up and down the country gleefully pointed to their manifesto as having no mention of doing anything on this particular matter.

“But look within a matter of a few short weeks, what has happened? What happened to integrity? What happened to transparency? It went out of the window.

“Broken promises already, that special contract that they sought to have with the British people based on integrity and decency smashed into a million pieces.”

Mr Stride added: “The party opposite may say they’re going to have these wonderful campaigns that’s going to get everybody that’s entitled onto pension credit. The reality is that even if they did that that would see a cost to the exchequer of £3.8 billion which is over twice the money they say they are going to be saving.

“This is an absurd policy which their own plans are actually actively working against, and the haste with which this has been carried out is simply jaw dropping. We do not have any impact assessments. We do not know what the impact will be across the income distribution. Every member of this House does not know what the impact will be within their own constituency.”

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has kicked off the Commons debate on winter fuel payments.

The debate will last for around an hour and a half meaning a vote is expected at around 3pm.

There are no plans to widen the eligibility to the winter fuel payment, Downing Street has said.

“There’s no such plans,” a Number 10 spokeswoman said when asked by journalists on Tuesday.

Asked whether encouraging people who are eligible but not yet signed up for pension credit could wipe out the savings from restricting the allowance to the country’s poorest pensioners, she said: “The issue is that this policy has not been targeted previously… in line with that as well, it is right that anyone eligible for income-related benefits or pension credit is receiving it, and that’s why we’re making efforts to ensure that those who are eligible are converted on to it.”

Downing Street would not say whether Sir Keir Starmer had spoken to MPs ahead of Tuesday’s vote as it does not comment on “MP engagement”.

Fantastic cross-party turnout for the Express rally against winter fuel cuts.

Two Tory leadership contenders as well as many of the party’s MPs, Reform and the Greens.

Silver Voices, Age UK and the National Pensioners Convention also in attendance.

There are “plenty of very wealthy pensioners” who do not need the winter fuel payment, according to a work and pensions minister.

Emma Reynolds said the Government was taking the decision to means-test the payment due to a “£22 billion black hole” in this year’s public finances “left by the previous government”.

She told a Westminster Hall debate: “In protecting the poorest pensioners on the lowest incomes and with the greatest need, it is the right decision given the tough choices that we face.

“Just to be very, very clear, I have spoken to a number of (MPs) present about the Government’s decision and there actually is fairly widespread agreement that this benefit should not be universal.

“There are plenty of very wealthy pensioners who are getting transfers of £200, or £300 if they’re over 80, into their bank account and who don’t need it, so it’s right that we target this support on the poorest pensioners.”

Ms Reynolds highlighted mitigation measures introduced by the Government, including extending the Household Support Fund, and said it was a “national scandal” that the previous Conservative government had not done more to increase uptake of Pension Credit.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell told a Westminster Hall debate: “A constituent has had leukaemia, they need to keep warm and have their heating on but cannot afford to, it costs £300 a month. A recently widowed constituent at the depth of their personal sadness now scared they will not survive the winter, they can’t afford their heating.

“Another goes to bed at five o’clock to keep warm. One told me he wears jumpers, a coat and a warm hat but the air is still cold and damp. And Rose, registered as severely visually impaired who lives alone, said ‘I’m a council tenant with no extra assets’. She went on to tell me she was scared, abandoned was her words – the winter fuel payment was her lifeline.”

Ms Maskell said the Government “must have the capacity to find another way”, adding: “They (pensioners) put their hope in Labour because, like me, we believe that we exist to fight for working people, to protect the poor and seek justice, equality and fairness.”

Ms Maskell said the economic imperative of the measures has been “shredded” before encouraging delays to implementing the policy, saying: “My constituents plead I do something, my goodness I am trying but the minister must too.

“Please, let us mitigate, let’s give people the confidence that we have, the comfort and care they need, help and protection to keep safe, warm and well this winter. If it can’t be done then delay these regulations.”

Labour MP Rachael Maskell (York Central) welcomed Government moves to encourage more people to sign up to Pension Credit to ensure they receive the winter fuel payment, but said there is a “nine-week wait” once the 243-question application has been submitted.

She told a Westminster Hall debate: “Charities say it can’t be done in time, there is a reason why 37% of those eligible haven’t claimed it. It’s complex, there’s pride, some have dementia and complex needs, others simply find the thought too stressful, but please sign up.”

Ms Maskell added: “Demand on GPs sadly will rise, queues at A&Es will grow, more beds occupied in the NHS, and social care under more demand. Tragically, according to UCL and the Institute of Health Equity, there were 4,950 excess winter deaths due to cold homes under the previous government.

“I feel sick to the stomach each time I repeat this reality as I can’t process how governments past did not protect these vulnerable people. Labour must be different. We need mitigation, as we must protect those under our care or what is the point of power?”

Pensioners are considering riding on a bus in a bid to keep warm following cuts to the winter fuel payment, MPs have heard.

Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins said several Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituents have written to her to express concerns, with an elderly couple saying they will “slip through the net and are considering going around on a bus to keep warm in winter”.

Defence Secretary John Healey will deliver a statement in the House of Commons at lunchtime to provide MPs with an update on the situation in Ukraine.

That means the debate on scrapping winter fuel payments will likely be delayed by around an hour.

This means the debate will begin at around 1.30pm, with a vote at 3pm.

Labour MPs have questioned the economic case for Government cuts to the winter fuel payment, warning the policy will also have a “humanitarian cost”.

Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, said a Labour Government “must always protect the poorest in our society” before questioning the likely savings of the policy to limit the winter fuel payment to only those people claiming Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.

Labour MP Andy McDonald told a Westminster Hall debate: “The winter fuel payment regulations amendment will take up to £300 per household from two groups of low-income pensioners – those eligible for Pension Credit who do not claim it and those who are just over the pension cliff edge but still living on very little.

“As I understand it, the Pension Credit take-up is around 63% and this will at best be 68% and the saving to the public purse is predicated on that basis, but the savings will be wiped out if everyone eligible took up the Pension Credit, which surely should be the goal.

“Does she agree with me that this simply doesn’t stack up?”

Ms Maskell replied: “I think (Mr McDonald) has done the maths and I think it speaks for itself. The Chancellor cannot therefore make this just an economic argument as there is also a humanitarian cost too, and we need to have the capacity to find that escape route, as (former Treasury minister) Ed Balls stated, as people need a safety net.”

Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will make “no apologies” for any of the decisions his Government has had to take.

His comments come amid a crunch debate and vote in the Commons on winter fuel payments today.

To read the full story on the Prime Minister’s comments, visit this story

Reform leader Nigel Farage took to X, formelry Twitter, to blast Labour.

See his post below:

Under the plans, the winter fuel allowance for pensioners will be limited to only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

It is expected to cut the number of people receiving the payment of up to £300 by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, which the Government hopes will save about £1.4 billion this year.

The Tories accused Labour of having failed to “properly examine” the implications of the policy.

Cabinet ministers are among those who have significant concerns about cut to winter fuel payments, report have suggested.

One said it has become a “massive issue on the doorstep” and the government “is at risk or ignoring the danger”.

Another warned that the cuts risk pushing pensioners into poverty

A petition demanding Rachel Reeves reverse her “callous” decision to axe the winter fuel payments has amassed almost 100,000 signatures.

Silver Voices, an over60s campaign group, has been fighting hard for Labour to u-turn.

To sign their petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/save-the-winter-fuel-payment

The decision to axe the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners has faced criticism from many Labour MPS, but Sir Keir Starmer said Labour must “secure the foundations” of the economy.

Sir Keir said: “If you’re asking whether I recognise it’s a tough decision I absolutely recognise the tough decision. If you’re asking, would I want to make this decision, the answer is no, but I did not want to inherit a £22 billion, and I’m not prepared to walk past that.”

Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, who is now a partner at pension consultants LCP (Lane Clark & Peacock), said: “Part of next April’s increase is simply to keep pace with rising prices.

“Based on the current inflation figure of 2.2%, the new state pension would need to rise by just over £250 simply for pensioners to stand still.

“Whilst an above-inflation increase of £460 will be welcomed, only the further £210 represents a real increase.

“And this is before allowing for the income tax which most pensioners will pay on their state pension rise.

“Those who lose £200 or £300 in winter fuel payments will therefore still be worse off in real terms next April.”

The full state pension is set to rise by £460 from next April, according to official wage figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said total pay increased by 4% in the three months to July.

While this is the lowest increase for nearly four years, it will mean pensioners who reached state pension age after April 2016 can expect to see their full, flat-rate state pension go up to £11,962.60 a year from next April – a rise of £460.

Under the triple lock, the state pension increases every April in line with whichever is the highest of average total earnings growth in the year from May to July of the previous year, CPI inflation in September of the previous year, or 2.5%.

As inflation is not expected to be higher than wage growth, the wages figure is likely to be used for the calculation.

But the figures are subject to possible revisions in next month’s data and the Government will confirm the planned increase in the autumn.

Shadow work and pensions sectetary Mel Stride told Times Radio: “We would not be going ahead with means testing the winter fuel payment.

“And I guess the point you might be making and it’s a fair one, of course, is there are some people who are millionaires, multimillionaires, or whatever, who clearly don’t need it.

“But the issue here is that the way the system works is that if you means test, you end up going much, much deeper than that and into millions of pensioners, actually, who are on extremely low incomes.

“And in fact, of the two thirds of the pensioners who are living below the poverty line will lose the winter fuel payment as a consequence of the measures that this Government is taking. It’s completely the wrong thing to do.

“They’ve done it at the same time as paying out to their trade union paymasters, very large wage increases, 22% over two years, junior doctors, 14% for train drivers, and above inflationary increases elsewhere.

“And this has been completely rushed. There’s no need to do this as quickly as the Government has done, other than for purely political reasons.

“And it means that the implications of this, of course, have not been properly examined in the normal way that they would be, and which is why even trade unions such as Unite has described this as picking the pockets of pensioners.”

Richard Burgon, who was one of seven Labour MPs who had the whip suspended earlier this year for rebelling over the two-child benefit cap, told LBC: “I think this cut will result in the deaths of pensioners who won’t be able to turn the heating on.”

He added that there was “no way” he could vote with the Government on the proposals.

He said: “I personally can’t look pensioners in my constituency in the eye… and kick them in the teeth like this.”

Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, urged the Government to reconsider its approach to axing winter fuel payments.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I also think there is a case for reform of the winter fuel allowance, I would just ask the Government not to rule out the possibility of a higher threshold, or indeed a taper of winter fuel allowance. Because our experience in Greater Manchester is that pensions are often reluctant to apply for the pension credit for a number of reasons.

“And actually, anyway, the threshold at which you get is pretty low anyway. And so I recognise how difficult the situation is and I do think there is a case, as I said, for reform, but I would ask them not to rule out putting in that possible extra help for pensioners who are right at that cliff edge.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds would not guarantee that no pensioners would die of cold as a result of the Government’s plans to cut the winter fuel payment.

“No-one should die of cold in this country,” the minister told Sky News.

Repeatedly asked whether he could guarantee that not one pensioner would die of cold, Mr Reynolds said: “I can guarantee we’re doing everything we can to make sure that not only the state pension is higher and everyone is better off but that support is targeted where it needs to be.”

Asked why the policy to restrict winter fuel payments was not in the Labour election manifesto, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News the party “did not know the situation we would inherit”.

Pressed why it was pursuing the measure, he said: “We have no choice.”

It was put to him that pensioners had been given no time to prepare, to which he replied: “The nature of what we’ve inherited and the challenges that that presented required some immediate decisions.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds urged Labour MPs to back the Government’s cut to the winter fuel allowance in a vote on the plans later on Tuesday.

Speaking on Times Radio, he said: “Fixing the foundations of the country isn’t just about difficult things like this, which are decisions that ideally you wouldn’t have to make. It’s about how you get to a better future.

“And that is exactly what we’re trying to do and that is what I would ask all colleagues to recognise and support today.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said his party’s MPs will vote against Labour’s plans to strip millions of pensioners of winter fuel payments.

In a video on X, the Clacton MP said: “So the big vote on the winter fuel allowance, let’s be clear, Reform will vote against this benefit being removed.

“Already we pay the highest energy bills in the whole of Europe, massively higher energy bills than they do in America.

“And given the plans that Ed Miliband has put forward our bills will only go up over the course of the next 10 years.

“For that reason above all, we’re going to vote against the removal of the winter fuel allowance.”

The Express has rounded up all the key information on the winter fuel payments vote.

MPs will vote on controversial plans to restrict the allowance to all but the country’s poorest pensioners.

Welcome to our live coverage of the winter fuel payments vote in the House of Commons which will take place this afternoon.

Follow our blog for the latest news and updates.