Sir Keir Starmer has said his Government is “going to have to be unpopular” following a backlash over his decision to cut winter fuel payments.
The Prime Minister said he needed to make difficult decisions during his first months in office to deliver wider reforms further down the line.
The issue will come to a head on Tuesday when MPs are set to vote on proposals to eliminate universal winter fuel payments for approximately 10 million pensioners who are not eligible for pension credit.
The move prompted a backlash from Labour MPs and also sparked warnings that many retirees on tight budgets could be plunged into fuel poverty.
In an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir said he is “absolutely clear” in his mind that the winter fuel allowance needs to be cut to stabilise public finances.
He told the BBC: “I am absolutely clear in my own mind that we can’t bring about that change if we don’t fix the fundamentals and stabilise our economy.”
He added: “Equally clear in my mind, in order to deliver the change which we will deliver, we have to fix the foundations now. And that’s tough decisions.”
Sir Keir went on to say: “Talking to many pensioners in the last two or three years, the things that have hit the most and hardest are inflation, because it got out of control under the last Government, energy bills, because the steps that were needed to be taken years ago weren’t taken, and the cost of living.
“I’m determined that no pensioner will ever be put through that before. That’s why we’re fixing the foundations now, tough though that may be.”
“I am absolutely convinced that we will only deliver that change, and I’m absolutely determined that we will, if we do the difficult things now,” he said.
“I know they are unpopular, I know they’re difficult, of course they’re tough choices.”
The Prime Minister said whether or not Labour MPs will be suspended from the party for voting against cuts to winter fuel payments is “a matter for the chief whip”.
Asked if MPs would be “kicked out” of the party for voting against the Government, Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC: “That will be a matter for the chief whip.
“We’re going into a vote. I’m glad we’re having a vote, because I think it’s very important for Parliament to speak on this.
“But every Labour MP was elected in on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country over the time we’ve got in office.
“I’m absolutely convinced that we will only deliver that change, I’m absolutely determined we will, if we do the difficult things.
“Now, I know they’re unpopular, I know they’re difficult. Of course they’re tough choices.”
