Pensioner Angela Maskell has slammed Labour’s “cruel and heartless” decision to strip older people of the winter fuel payment.

The former secretarial worker, 82, cares for her husband Frederick, 82, who has mild onset dementia.

Angela applied for pension credit weeks ago in an attempt to re-qualify for winter fuel payments but has yet to hear back from the Government.

She told how she cannot claim carers allowance because Frederick, who worked in accounts, receives disability living allowance.

When asked what she would say to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Angela said: “Listen to all the concerns from trade unions, pensioner groups and get your finger out and reverse your decision. It’s not good enough. It’s cruel and it’s heartless.”

Frederick and Angela, who have been married for 33 years, now dread the cold months ahead.

Angela, from Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, said: “Frederick’s mobility is very poor. He can’t get around much and sits a lot during the day. Our central heating which is underfloor is useless and we don’t have it on because it doesn’t work efficiently.

“We have two halogen heaters, one in the lounge and the other in the bedroom. Last year we went to bed if it got too cold. I am underweight and feel the cold dreadfully. We live in a block of flats which is all electric.Our flat is bitterly cold.”

Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s suggestion that every pensioner will be better off under Labour during his conference speech, Angela said: “Better for pensioners? Don’t believe anything that comes out of his mouth. If he means the state pension increases, some of us would have popped our clogs for being too cold by 2025!”