Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves asking her to consider pausing a move to scrap winter fuel payments to most pensioners.

The Labour MP wrote to Ms Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall over the weekend highlighting her concerns over the move.

It comes as MPs face a vote today (September 10), over the policy, one of the biggest changes brought in by Labour since the election on July 4.

In the letter, Ms Foy writes: “I cannot fail to be moved by the strength of feeling in my inbox and post box from pensioners and their families in my constituency. The stories I have read echo many of the concerns that charities like Age UK and Disability Rights UK have raised. Concerns which I also share.

“The decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments will leave millions of older disabled people without any financial assistance with the extra heating costs required to stay safe and healthy.

“While I appreciated the efforts the Government is making to increase the take up of Pension Credit, we are running out of time to ensure eligible pensions can make claims and be in receipt of much needed funds ahead of the colder months.

“I am asking you to seriously consider pausing the proposal. More time is needed for Pension Credit claims to be.”

Sir Keir Starmer could face a rebellion from some of his own MPs opposed to the move when the Commons votes on it on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said he recognised scaling back the winter fuel payment was a “really tough decision” but said Labour must “secure the foundations” of the economy as he faces a potential backbench revolt over the plans.

Sir Keir told Scottish lobby journalists in Downing Street: “Let me first recognise this a really tough decision that we’ve had to make.”

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But he said that Labour had been “elected into government on the basis of economic stability, that we would secure the foundations”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the squeeze in July as part of a series of measures aimed at filling what she called a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.

More than 500,000 people have signed an Age UK petition to save the winter fuel payment. This comes at the same time as the Energy Price Cap rising in October.