![The Labour Party's manifesto includes no reference to the fuel payment, which is worth up to £300 for the over-65s](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/06/27/TELEMMGLPICT000383599868_17195085695500_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Starmer will cut pensioners’ winter fuel payment, claims Mel Stride
Work and Pensions Secretary says ‘Labour are coming for’ the £300 allowance, as well as bus passes and free TV licences
![The Labour Party's manifesto includes no reference to the fuel payment, which is worth up to £300 for the over-65s](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/06/27/TELEMMGLPICT000383599868_17195085695500_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Mel Stride has accused Sir Keir Starmer of planning to cut the winter fuel payment if he wins next week’s election.
The Work and Pensions Secretary said “Labour are coming for” the allowance, which is worth up to £300 for the over-65s.
Labour’s manifesto includes no reference to the payment, in sharp contrast to Jeremy Corbyn’s last manifesto, which pledged to keep it.
It said the pensions triple lock would remain in place but concessionary bus passes and free TV licences were also not mentioned, raising fears over whether they would be retained if the Labour leader enters No 10.
A Labour Party spokesman said there were “no plans” to change the payment.
‘Retirement tax’
But Mr Stride said: “We already know Labour will hammer pensioners with their retirement tax, dragging the new state pension into income tax for the first time in British history.
“Now there can be little doubt Labour are coming for your winter fuel payment, bus passes, prescriptions and TV licences.
“Labour’s first budget is shaping up to be a dreadful attack on pensioners’ security and dignity.
“Only the Conservatives have committed to keep these lifeline benefits for pensioners so they can enjoy dignity in retirement.”
Mr Stride’s “retirement tax” refers to Labour’s refusal to copy the Tories’ pledge to increase the personal allowance in future so they do not have to pay income tax.
Scrapping winter fuel payments for all pensioners would save the Treasury around £2 billion, giving Rachel Reeves, as chancellor, extra money for spending elsewhere.
The Conservative manifesto includes a pledge to keep all current pensioner benefits, including free bus passes, winter fuel payments, free prescriptions and TV licences.
In 2015, when Ed Miliband was leader and Ms Reeves was shadow work and pensions secretary, Labour’s manifesto called for the scrapping of winter fuel payments for the richest five per cent of pensioners.
In 2017, Theresa May promised to submit the winter fuel payment to a means test: a policy which contributed to her disastrous showing in the election that year.
The Labour spokesman said: “We have no plans to make any changes to these benefits. Labour is committed to protecting pensioners from the Conservatives’ cost of living crisis.”
Throughout the election campaign, Sir Keir and Ms Reeves have insisted they will not raise income tax, national insurance or VAT if they win the election on July 4, but have faced ongoing questions about their plans for other taxes and spending plans given the tight state of the public finances.