Winter fuel payment latest: MPs vote to cut pensioner allowance as Mel Stride eliminated from Tory leader race

Sir Keir was accused of punishing pensioners but makes ‘no apologies’ for the controversial move (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

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Labour has been accused of punishing pensioners after MPs voted to cut the winter fuel allowance for millions across the country.

Father of the House and former Tory minister Sir Edward Leigh called Sir Keir Starmer’s claims about the previous government’s financial decisions “absolute and complete rubbish”.

A Tory motion aimed at blocking the policy was rejected by MPs on Tuesday with a majority of 120.

The government insisted the proposed changes are needed to fill a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances left behind by previous Conservative governments.

The Winter Fuel Payment was introduced by Tony Blair’s government in 1997 and was expanded to all pensioners in 2000.

The new change will now mean that only those in receipt of pension credit or other certain benefits will continue to receive them.

Sir Edward said: “What the Labour government is now trying to do is make the political point that the Conservative Party ran the country into the ground.”