Labour has been accused of being “scared” by the growing backlash over controversial plans to cut heating allowances for 10 million British pensioners this winter

Keir Starmer is “terrified” by the growing backlash against his plans to cut heating subsidies for ten million pensioners this winter, the Tories said last night.

As Parliament returned to its seat after the summer recess, the Prime Minister warned panicked Labour MPs that he would not tolerate any opposition to the raid on the elderly and announced that he would be “really tough” on the issue.

In a move that infuriated opposition MPs, government sources suggested ministers would reject calls for a debate and vote in the Commons on the controversial plan, which was pushed through during the parliamentary recess in the summer.

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have pushed for a vote on the issue, but sources say a vote is not necessary as the controversial rules have already been passed and will come into force in two weeks without scrutiny.

A growing number of Labour MPs are concerned about the plan, which will cost millions of pensioners up to £300 this winter. Only the poorest pensioners will receive the payment.

Government sources said ministers would not allow a debate and vote in the House of Commons on the move, which will cost millions of pensioners up to £300 this winter (file photo).

Conservative leadership candidate Mel Stride said ministers appeared to be very concerned that the issue would expose divisions within the Labour Party.

“Labour is scared,” he said. “Not only do they want to prevent Parliament from having a say in their plans, they have not published an impact assessment because they want to hide the true cost to pensioners.”

“There is no reason not to allow this debate and vote on it other than to trample on Parliament – the only reason Labour won’t allow this debate is because they are afraid of asking their own MPs to vote on it. Labour knows that cutting winter fuel subsidies is wrong. They made that decision and they cannot defend it.”

The decision to make the payment means-tested was announced in late July by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, who said savings were needed to plug an alleged £22 billion “black hole” left in the public finances by the previous government.

Speaker of the House of Commons Lucy Powell faced ridicule over the weekend after claiming the £1.4 billion in savings were essential to prevent a “run on the pound”.

Julian Jessop, an economist at the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank, said: “This is idiotic. To claim this was necessary to prevent a run on the pound is just stupid.” Left-leaning economist Jonathan Portes described the claim as “total scaremongering”.

Only a handful of Labour MPs have spoken out publicly against the cuts, but dozens more are said to have raised their concerns privately after being bombarded with angry complaints from their constituents.

Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan tabled a motion in the House of Commons yesterday calling for the plan to be put on hold, arguing that ministers must “recognise the worrying, annual excess number of deaths among pensioners during the winter”.

The decision to make the payment means-tested was announced in late July by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, who said savings were needed to plug an alleged £22 billion “black hole” left by the previous government.

House of Commons Leader Lucy Powell was ridiculed at the weekend after claiming the £1.4 billion savings were essential to prevent a “run on the pound”.

Labour peer Lord Sikka condemned the lack of debate and warned that the plan would save little or no money when the cost of treating pensioners affected by the cold was included.

But Sir Keir indicated that he would not give in.

Asked if action could be taken against rebellious MPs, he told BBC Radio Five Live: “I’m really tough on that… We were elected with a mandate to make change. We were elected to make difficult decisions and to make the changes this country needs within five years.”

“We will not get this done unless we tackle the difficult things now. It is not easy. And I understand why it feels difficult, but it has to be done.” He warned that there are still “difficult decisions to be made” in next month’s budget.

Visiting a primary school in Orpington, Kent, the Prime Minister defended the cuts, telling reporters: “We have found a £22 billion black hole in the economy. We need to close it. What we will not do is pretend it doesn’t exist or cover it up. That’s what the last government did and it made it worse. That means we have to make tough decisions.”

“I don’t want to cut winter heating subsidies… but we need to get the fundamentals of our economy in order and… then we can build a better future that pensioners and so many other people voted for in this election.”

Almost half a million people have signed an Age UK petition on this issue, and hundreds of thousands have signed similar petitions from other groups.

Labour opponents warned that the plan to cut winter heating subsidies would save little money when the cost of treating pensioners affected by the cold was included (file photo).

The Conservatives launched their own petition yesterday calling on the government to reverse the move. Rishi Sunak said: “Under the Conservatives, all pensioners received heating allowances in winter. That was the right thing to do and I’m proud we did it.”

“It is the Labour Party’s decision to end this support now. If you disagree with it, then help us stop it.”

Dennis Reed, of the campaign group Silver Voices, said: “It seems the new government is using this as a virality test to show how tough they are – they think older people are an easy target. But the more they insist, the less sense it makes.”

“Rachel Reeves now says they had to do it to get the economy back on its feet, Lucy Powell says there might have been a run on the pound if they hadn’t. That’s ridiculous. That’s a lot of money for millions of pensioners, but it’s a pittance for the public finances – and a lot less than what is being spent on public sector pay rises.”

“The more they come out with this stuff, the angrier people get.”