Sir Keir Starmer has refused to deny Labour will launch a new raid on pensioners' pockets just hours after Chancellor Rachel Reeves made a firm pledge to GB News to protect British OAPs.
The Prime Minister, who faced a grilling today after yesterday's vote to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners, was quizzed on whether free bus passes would remain in place.
Tory MP Louie French asked: "Following Labour's disgraceful political decision to scrap winter fuel payments with little notice to millions of pensioners, will the Prime Minister today rule out scrapping concessionary travel fares and council tax discounts which also help millions of pensioners across the UK? Yes or no?"
However, the Prime Minister refused to be drawn into whether or not he would maintain the pensioner perk.
Starmer said: "As he knows very well, I am not going to preempt the Budget. It will all be set out in due course."
Reeves claimed the Government will continue to deliver free bus passes, TV licences and prescriptions for the elderly generation.
Sitting down with GB News' political editor Christopher Hope just a few hours before, the Chancellor said: "We've committed to those bus passes, to free TV licenses for those entitled, and free prescriptions.
"But we've also committed to the triple lock, not just for one year, but for the duration of this Parliament.
"That means that pensions will continue to rise by whichever is higher, two and a half per cent inflation or average earnings.
"That means that pensioners have £900 more this winter, and likely another £460 from next April."
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Starmer refuses to apologise to 'shivering pensioners' over 'chilling' decision to axe Winter Fuel Payments
Sir Keir Starmer has opted not to apologise to "shivering" pensioners who will now miss out on Winter Fuel Payments.
Tory MP Dame Harriet Baldwin asked whether the Prime Minister would apologise for taking away the pensioner perk from "frail" OAPs.
The ex-Treasury Minister said: “I thought that socialism was about taxing those with the broadest shoulders in order to help the most vulnerable.
“But it appears that Starmer socialism involves scaring those with the broadest shoulders out of the country while taking the winter fuel allowance off frail, 90-year-olds living in draughty homes.
“Will the Prime Minister apologise to my shivering constituents for his personal choice and will he reverse this chilling decision?”
Responding to her request to apologise, Starmer said: "My choice is to stabilise the economy after 14 years of failure."
Sunak pokes fun at Starmer over Thatcher painting row
Rishi Sunak has poked fun at Sir Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister's decision to remove a picture of Margaret Thatcher from No10.
The Leader of the Opposition said: "Farmers also do great work to preserve the beauty of the British countryside and something I am sure that the Prime Minister will appreciate given his new found preference for landscapes over political portraiture.
"But when it comes to land use there are currently protections in place to ensure that the most productive farmland is used for food production rather than alternatives like solar.
"Does he agree that it is not appropriate or right that developers with a vested interest grade the quality of that farmland themselves and will he look at making that process independent?"
The Prime Minister replied: "Rural communities were neglected under the last government. Confidence was at an all-time low and thousands of food and farming businesses have been forced out of business.
"Of course we will work with them, of course we will get the balance right."
Farage clashes with Starmer over 'two-tier justice system' as prisoners celebrate early release
Nigel Farage has clashed with Sir Keir Starmer over the Labour Government's decision to accelerate the early release of prisoners to free up more jail spaces.
The Reform UK leader warned the Prime Minister that the public are starting to fear about "two-tier policing" as rioters look set to fill the spaces freed-up by "in some cases serious career criminals".
Farage said: “Does the Prime Minister understand there is a growing feeling of anger in this country that we are living through two-tier policing and a two-tier justice system?”
The Prime Minister replied: “I am angry to be put in a position of having to release people who should be in prison because the last government broke the prison system.”
Starmer STILL dodging questions on Winter Fuel Payments amid fears millions of pensioners at risk
Sir Keir Starmer has dodged Rishi Sunak's request for the Government to publish an impact assessment on his plan to cut Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners.
The Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister whether he would publish such information several times during their heated 10-minute exchange in the House of Commons.
Sunak asked: Will he now publish the impact assessment before the House rises?"
However, Starmer instead attempted to point the blame at the Tories after leaving a £22billion blackhole in public finances.
Starmer replied: "Before he complains about us clearing up his mess, perhaps he would like to apoloigise for the £22billion black hole?"
Attempting to clarify the potential result of a impact assessment, Sunak again asked: "We know why he is hiding the impact assessment. The Labour Party's own previous analysis claimed that this policy could cause 3,850 deaths. So are the numbers in his impact assessment higher or lower than that?"
Dodging the question again, the Prime Minister said: "We are taking this decision to stabilise the economy.
"That means we can commit to the triple lock, by committing to the triple lock we can make sure that payments of state pension are higher and therefore there is more money in the pocket of pensioners, notwithstanding the tough action that we need to take."
Sunak concluded the exchange by warning the Prime Minister that the Tories will “continue holding him to account for that”.
PMQs is just minutes away
Sir Keir Starmer will to lock horns with Rishi Sunak after Labour MPs voted to push ahead with measures to cut Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners.
The Leader of the Opposition is expected to quiz the Prime Minister on the decision, with the Tories ramping up efforts to turn the screw against Labour MPs for supporting the plan.
Anderson vows to 'name and shame' Labour MPs as Reform set to savage Starmer over 'pernicious' Winter Fuel Payment vote
Ashfield MP Lee Anderson has vowed to "name and shame" Labour MPs after 348 voted in favour of scrapping the Winter Fuel Allowance for 10 million pensioners.
Anderson, who served as a Labour Councillor before switching to the Tories and later Reform UK, appeared to suggest the populist party would look to savage Sir Keir Starmer ahead of next year's local elections.
Reform UK's five MPs joined a rainbow coalition of Tories, Liberal Democrats, SNP and Green MPs to oppose the Prime Minister's proposal.
Speaking about how Reform UK will respond to Labour's push, Anderson told GB News: "Next year we've got the county elections in Nottinghamshire, and I'm telling you now, this will be on every single leaflet.
“I will name and shame every single Labour MP in Nottinghamshire that voted for this pernicious, cruel Act of Parliament."
The Tory Party is also ramping up efforts to exert pressure on Labour MPs who voted for Starmer’s plan.
Labour MPs were named with the number of local pensioners who could lose Winter Fuel Payments also being tallied.
A rebellion against Starmer's plan failed to materialise, with John Trickett leading a one man revolt against the Prime Minister.
However, 53 Labour MPs abstained as the seven Corbynistas who lost the whip after supporting an SNP motion to end the two-child benefit cap voted against the measure to means-test Winter Fuel Payments.
'I'll make it to the members!' Cleverly makes bold leadership prediction
Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly has made a bold prediction about his chances after receiving 21 votes in yesterday's second ballot.
The former Home Secretary was level with ex-Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, as Kemi Badenoch obtained 28 votes and Robert Jenrick cemented his pole position on 32.
However, Cleverly is now confident he will make it to the final two as MPs prepare to head to the Tory Party Conference in Birmingham later this month.
Labour MPs don't credit Starmer for landslide victory, ANALYSIS BY OLIVIA UTLEY
GB News' political correspondent Olivia Utley has shed some insight on why 53 Labour MPs abstained on axing Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners yesterday.
Olivia argued the Prime Minister's majority does not reflect the atmosphere among Labour MPs, with many not crediting Starmer for their victories on July 4.
She also highlighted how Starmer's personal approval rating was much lower than the likes of Tony Blair, instead pointing out it was much closer to Jeremy Corbyn's.
Olivia said:
WATCH NOW: Rachel Reeves defends Winter Fuel Payments plan
David Lammy and Antony Blinken arrive in Kyiv
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The pair will meet Ukrainian leaders to discuss providing assistance to the ex-Soviet state against Russia's ongoing onslaught.
Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly takes aim at Labour over early release prisoners
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly has taken aim at Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Government after ex-prisoners were filmed celebrating outside of jail yesterday.
Cleverly, who is running to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, told GB News: "The fact is Labour have bowed to pressure. They've taken what they thought was the easy option and we are now living with the consequences. This is about poor decision-making by the Labour Party."
The Braintree MP made the comments shortly before Chancellor Rachel Reeves blamed the Tories for the state of overcrowding in prisons across England and Wales.
'It makes me really angry!' Rachel Reeves admits she was FURIOUS at prisoners popping champagne after early release
Rachel Reeves has admitted she was "really angry" after prisoners were seen popping champagne following their early release from jail under Labour's plans to curb overcrowding.
Inmates who were part of the first 1,750 early-release criminals were snapped celebrating outside a number of prisons across the UK, with GB News even witnessing a group of people smoking cannabis while an unmarked police car watched on.
Reeves joined the growing number of MPs to voice concern about the situation witnessed yesterday.
However, the Chancellor appeared more keen to take aim at the previous Tory Government over its handling of prisons.
Speaking to GB News' political editor Christopher Hope at Silverstone UTC, the Chancellor said: "It makes me really angry.
"It makes me really angry the inheritance that the previous Government left whether its the £22billion blackhole in public finances or failing to build the prison places that are necessary to keep criminals locked up.
"We will make sure that we those prison places are available but we have had to make the tough decisions to clear up the awful mess the previous Government left for us."
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Labour set to scrap fuel duty freeze and hike rates piling on misery for petrol and diesel drivers
A leading think tank has indicated that Labour will look to increase the rate of fuel duty in the upcoming Autumn Statement, potentially acting as a hammer blow for petrol and diesel drivers.
tHE new report from the Resolution Foundation has identified fuel duty, Stamp Duty and business rates relief for retail and hospitality would be potential headaches for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Labour Government.
The Revenue and Reform report suggested that the loss of fuel duty due to vehicle electrification will be an "£8billion problem" by 2029-2030 and grow further every year after.
Labour will unveil its first Budget on October 30, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves looking to make cuts that will fill the £22billion funding black hole left by the previous Conservative Government.
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Reeves under 'no illusion' about challenges facing UK after pushing through Winter Fuel Payments
'Trans women are women' say BOTH Labour MPs fighting to head up influential women and equalities committee
Both Labour MPs who are fighting to head up the Women & Equalities Committee believe transgender women are women.
Luton North MP Sarah Owen and Jarrow & Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne will today seek election to head up one of the most influential Commons groups.
However, the pair have previously argued trans women are women in comments that have raised eyebrows among women's rights campaigners.
In a tweet marking Transgender Awareness Week in November 2020, Owen said: “Trans rights are human rights. Trans men are men. Trans women are women.”
Osborne, who is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group, separately said: “Yes, some women have a penis. It’s clear that Tory allies will help with their war on woke."
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WATCH NOW: Lee Anderson's warning to Labour MPs in full
Tories launch attack ads against 348 Labour MPs who backed 'pickpocketing pensioners'
The Tory Party has launched a fresh set of attack adverts after 348 Labour MPs voted to end Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners.
Despite Labour MPs reportedly being reduced to floods of tears after the vote, the Conservatives were quick to pounce on their woes.
An example of the advert seen by GB News shows Stretford & Urmston MP Andrew Western being pictured with the number of local pensioners expected to miss out on the seasonal cash boost also tallied below.
Labour will not 'water down' controversial Winter Fuel Payment cut
Labour will not "water down" its decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners, a Government Minister has insisted.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook ruled out making changes to the policy amid widespread concern about the impact on pensioners.
He told Sky News: “We are not going to water down that policy. We think it is the right decision to make.
“It is a decision we took with a heavy heart, none of us expected to do it.
“As you know, on taking office we discovered £22billion of unfunded spending commitments. Those in year unfunded spending pressures, they are real.”
Rachel Reeves speaks out after economy stalls
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said "change will not happen overnight" as the UK economy flatlined in July.
In a statement issued by the Treasury, Reeves said: "I am under no illusion about the scale of the challenge we face and I will be honest with the British people that change will not happen overnight.
"Two quarters of positive economic growth does not make up for fourteen years of stagnation.
"That is why we are taking the long-term decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy, including today’s announcement of £8billion of new investment from Amazon Web Services, that will help rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off."
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