SIR Keir Starmer is facing a backlash Poole’s first ever Labour MP over the government’s decision to strip the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners. 

The decision by the prime minister and chancellor Rachel Reeves would result in a “bureaucratic and unpopular means test” for older people, Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan said as he tabled a Commons motion calling for the Government to delay the move. 

Only those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits will be eligible for the payment in England and Wales as a result of the Government’s decision, which ministers have said is needed to help fill a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. 

In what could be seen as a sign of the unease within the Labour ranks, Mr Duncan-Jordan, an MP first elected in July by just 18 votes, tabled a Commons motion calling for a rethink. 

His motion said the measure was being introduced “without prior consultation or an impact assessment, nor with sufficient time to put in place a proper and effective take-up campaign for pension credit”. 

It failed to take account of the “modest incomes” of those just above the threshold for pension credit and was announced before a 10 per cent hike in the energy price cap which will see the average household’s bill rise by around £149 from October. 

Sir Keir StarmerSir Keir Starmer

He warned “colder homes make older people more susceptible to poor health, including hyperthermia, respiratory and circulatory disease”. 

Mr Duncan-Jordan called for a delay on the policy until there was a “comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling fuel poverty, health inequalities and low incomes among older people”. 

The Tories accused the government of “running scared” by declining to put the plans to a vote in Parliament. 

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said: “Not only do they want to block Parliament having a say on their plans, they have not published an impact assessment as they want to hide the true costs to pensioners. 

“There is no reason not to grant this debate and vote on this other than to ride roughshod over Parliament – the only reason Labour aren’t granting one is because they are running scared of asking their own MPs to vote on this matter.” 

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole Vikki Slade has backed her party’s motion to Parliament to block Labour’s plans to scrap Labour’s plans. 

Mrs Slade said: “It could force vulnerable elderly people in our community to choose between eating and heating this winter."