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Sir Keir Starmer has been defeated in a vote to reverse the controversial cut to the winter fuel payments in a vote that has exposed a rift within the Labour party.
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 rowdy hall at the Labour Party annual conference.
In a show of defiance, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham called Labour members to rebel against the policy as she shouted: “This is not what people voted for.”
The motion called for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be scrapped and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.
The prime minister said in his conference speech on Tuesday that he understood concern over the winter fuel allowance but stressed that stabilising the economy was the first step of a long-term plan, adding: “Every pensioner will be better off with Labour.”
Sir Keir has now left the conference to join world leaders at the United Nations with a promise to deliver “global leadership” as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out conflict and the bloody war in Ukraine grinds on.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
ICYMI: Unions win vote to reverse winter fuel cut in blow for Keir Starmer
Delegates at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool have voted to reverse the government’s controversial cut to winter fuel payments, in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
While motions at the party conference are non-binding, and the government is not required to respond to them, the vote highlights major division within the party over the controversial policy.
In July, Rachel Reeves announced that older people not in receipt of pension credits or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive winter fuel payments from this year onwards.
The decision came as part of a series of spending cuts to address a black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government announced in July by the chancellor.
Our lobby team reporting from the Labour conference has the full story below:
Wes Streeting warns against ‘killing NHS with kindness’
Wes Streeting has warned against “killing the NHS with kindness”, as he vowed not to back down in his mission to reform the health service.
Giving a speech on the main stage of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, the health secretary said the NHS is “broken but not beaten”, accusing the previous Conservative administration of having betrayed the service by leaving it “totally unprepared for tomorrow”.
Mr Streeting told delegates on the final day of the conference that the government won’t put “protecting the reputation of the NHS above protecting patients”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Labour responds to motion to stop winter fuel payment cuts
Labour has reaffirmed its decision to cut the winter fuel payment after party delegates voted for the government to reverse the move.
Following a motion to stop the policy, which narrowly passed by a show of hands at the party’s annual conference, a Labour spokesperson said: “The Tories wrecked our economy and left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. They made commitments they couldn’t pay for, covered it up and ran away.
“The Labour Party was elected on our manifesto commitment to sound fiscal rules, economic growth is our primary mission and we will take the tough decisions now to rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off.”
Rishi Sunak speaks up
The former prime minister has taken to social media to respond to a raft of criticism and accusations made by ministers during the Labour Party conference.
Mr Sunak tweeted: “Labour inherited the fastest growing economy in the G7. But the prime minister and chancellor constantly talking the economy down has already had a damaging impact on consumer and business confidence.
“Time to stop playing politics and put country first, party second.”
Labour conference comes to an end
Following the dramatic winter fuel payment motion, party chairman Ellie Reeves takes the stage to conclude the Labour party conference.
She said: “The British people have given us that chance. We will not let them down.”
Delegates are now taking part in a traditional rendition of the socialist song The Red Flag.
Tories: Starmer lost support of his paymasters
The Tories have taken the opportunity to use the crushing vote against winter fuel allowance cuts from Labour members and unions to attack Sir Keir Starmer.
A Conservative Party source told The Telegraph: “Starmer has lost support of the Labour Party, his MPs and paymasters.”
Despite the bruising vote, the decision remains non-binding as it was already passed in parliament.
Keir Starmer refuses four times to apologise to pensioners for cutting winter fuel payments
Starmer refuses four times to apologise to pensioners for axing winter fuel payments
Sir Keir Starmer refused four times to apologise to pensioners for cutting winter fuel payments during an interview with Good Morning Britain. The prime minister sat down with Susanna Reid at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. “Would you like to take this opportunity to say sorry?” the presenter asked. “I am really concerned that we have been put in this position,” Sir Keir responded. The question was then repeated another three times but was not directly answered. “I promised we would stabilise the economy,” the PM responded, suggesting the people who should be apologising are the previous government.
Pictured: Labour delegates rebel against Starmer to scrap winter fuel allowance cuts
Labour members call government to use winter fuel payment to help children
Labour member Maggie Cosin said she did not need the winter fuel payment and the money should be used to help children and others in need.
The member from Dover and Deal Constituency Labour Party told conference: “Every single year, £200 comes into my bank account and every year I go and buy stuff for the food bank with it.
“I don’t need it, the children of this country need it.”
Ms Cosin said there is a need to “sort the economy”, adding: “It’s not a matter of taking it away from poor pensioners, it’s a matter of getting it to others.”
Breaking: Keir Starmer suffers setback at conference over winter fuel cuts
Sir Keir Starmer has suffered a blow on the last day of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, Archie Mitchell reports.
After the prime minister jetted to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, attendees at the get-together voted to overturn his decision to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
Left-wing unions forced a vote on the issue, which has sparked fury as struggling pensioners are bracing for higher energy bills this winter.
The PM’s loss makes him look out of step with his party and calls into question his authority.
But, given parliament has overwhelmingly supported the move, the vote was largely symbolic and will have little impact on the policy change going ahead.
Source: independent.co.uk
