Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been defeated in a vote to reverse the cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance in a vote on Wednesday.
The non-binding motion, named An Economy for the Future and tabled by Sharon Graham of the Unite union and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), was passed by a show of hands in a hall at the Labour Party conference
The motion demanded the prime minister abandon the decision to axe the £300 payment for all but the poorest pensioners.
While the vote was non-binding, it will pile pressure on the new government amid growing calls to reverse the policy.
During her speech, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham criticised the government and called on members to rebel against the policy as she shouted: “This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.”
Alan Tate, of the Communication Workers Union, said the Winter Fuel Payment “overshadowed” the work of the new Labour Government.
He said: “The CWU has been inundated with emails and calls from our retired members worried about choosing between heating and eating.”
Starmer was not present in the hall for the vote as he attended meetings of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
But, on Tuesday, the prime minister said that he understood concerns over the winter fuel allowance but stressed that stabilising the economy was part of a long-term plan, adding: “Every pensioner will be better off with Labour.”
With that in mind, should Starmer reverse cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance? Have your say and vote in the poll above now.