Unions embarrass Keir Starmer with vote to revive winter gasoline fee

Sir Keir Starmer was given a symbolic bloody nose by trade unions today as the Labour Party Conference voted to reinstate universal winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Delegates narrowly voted to restore the cash lump sum on the last day what should have been a triumphant celebration for the new Government in Liverpool to show their displeasure at one of its first major policy changes.

It came after days of protests, led by Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), against the decision to make the payment means-tested, as part of cost-cutting plans by Rachel Reeves.

Composite 15, moved by Unite and seconded by the CWU, was carried following a vote of Labour delegates on the conference floor. But there was some disquiet at the decision in the room.

Sir Keir was not present for a debate on the controversial policy at the conference in Liverpool. Although the loss is only symbolic, because the decision has been voted into law, it underlines the scale of anger at the government on the issue.

Addressing conference, Unite secretary general Sharon Graham blasted ministers for cutting cash handouts for the old while leaving the superrich ‘untouched’, adding: ‘This is not what people voted for, it’s the wrong decision and it needs to be reversed.’

It came after Sir Keir, who is in New York for the United Nation General Assembly, refused four times to apologise for making the change.

It came after days of protests, led by Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), against the decision to make the payment means-tested, as part of cost-cutting plans by Rachel Reeves .

Keir Starmer has refused four times to apologise for stripping winter fuel payments from pensioners 

Addressing conference, Unite secretary general Sharon Graham blasted ministers for cutting cash handouts for the old while leaving the superrich ‘untouched’, adding: ‘This is not what people voted for, it’s the wrong decision and it needs to be reversed.’

The PM was repeatedly challenged to say sorry to vulnerable old people who were losing out on up to £300, but blamed the Tories for ‘putting him in this position’. 

The defiant stance came in a bruising clash with Susanna Reid on ITV‘s Good Morning Morning Britain before he headed for a UN summit in New York.

Asked how he could justify the cut, Sir Keir said: ‘Well, it’s tough and I think the first thing to say and to explain is why we had to do it. 

‘We inherited a really damaged economy, we did an audit and we discovered an undisclosed £22billion black hole this year, which we have to fix.’ 

The defiant stance came in a bruising clash with Susanna Reid on ITV ‘s Good Morning Morning Britain before he headed for a UN summit in New York

The Unite union staged a protest at Labour conference today ahead of a vote on the issue 

Pressed if he wanted to apologise to pensioners, Sir Keir said: ‘Well, I am really concerned that we’ve been put in this position. 

‘When you inherit an economy with £22 billion missing, it is a really difficult set of choices. 

‘But what I don’t want to do is to allow the economy to run out of control. What I want to make sure is that every single pensioner, there is that increase through the triple lock each and every year…’ 

Told again that he had an opportunity to say sorry, the PM said: ‘The people who should be saying sorry are the last government who left a hole of £22billion, and they should be sorry for that and they should apologise for that.’ 

Reid persisted ‘so you’re not going to apologise?’

Sir Keir said: ‘I’ve come in to fix the mess, fix the problems, and that’s tough, really tough decisions. 

‘The cost of not doing it is to run the risk that we lose control of the economy again. 

‘I’m not going to do that because if I do, you will be saying to me in two or three years’ time, if we lose control of the economy, will you now say sorry for having lost control of the economy?’ 

Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have put forward the winter fuel motion at Labour conference.

Pressed if he wanted to apologise to pensioners, Sir Keir said: ‘Well, I am really concerned that we’ve been put in this position.’

It was originally set to be debated on Monday – but was rescheduled for after Sir Keir had given his big speech and departed amid rumours of backroom manoeuvring.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused Labour of ‘picking the pocket’ of pensioners ‘while leaving the ‘abhorrently wealthy alone’ as she joined a demo inside the conference this morning.

Ahead of the vote she told reporters: ‘It was disrespectful to have moved it … it is not important what happens here, it is what people think outside this conference hall. And they are disgusted, quite frankly, that this has happened in terms of the winter fuel allowance.

‘The winter is before us and there could be people dying as a result of this policy.

‘There is £300 that should be in pensioners’ pockets and they have decided to take it out of pensioners’ pockets. Until it goes back in there is really nothing that can be said that can placate us because it is a really clear issue.’

Asked where the money should be found to fill the ‘fiscal black hole’ instead, she said: ‘If you look at the top richest families in Britain, the top richest 50 families in Britain, they are worth £500billion, that’s the same as half of Britain, that is the same amount. Why aren’t we taxing 1 per cent on the richest 1 per cent? You get £25billion and you get rid of the (£22billion) black hole with £3billion left over.’

CWU officials will not be at Labour’s conference today as they are attending the funeral in Scotland of the union’s former assistant general secretary Andy Kerr, who used to be on Labour’s national executive.

The motion calls for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be reversed and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.