Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has launched a furious rant over winter fuel payments which have been axed for millions of pensioners by Labour.
The party has defended the move, saying it is part of a wider plan to fill a black hole in the public finances.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also warned the country faces difficult times, saying the financial situation is worse than he anticipated.
Speaking on GB News, Lee did not hide his anger as he questioned how he will be able to explain it to his Ashfield constituents.
Lee Anderson hit out at winter fuel allowance being cut
GB NEWS / PA
“I was out on Saturday morning in a cafe, I had a cup of tea and a bacon cob”, he said.
“I had a few people come in and they were furious about the winter fuel payment. There was no debate about this and they didn’t have it in their manifesto.
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“They have really upset millions of pensioners. Keir Starmer lied over this. He has been dishonest and deceitful.”
He added: “Imagine if the Conservatives or Reform made this decision, everyone would be up in arms.
“We are sending billions abroad to help people on their crazy net zero journeys. We’ve got illegal migration costing us billions of pounds a year.
“Our poor old pensioners who have worked all their lives and don’t have a big state pension, if they are just over that threshold on the pension credit limit, they lose £300 a year. It’s criminal.
Lee Anderson joined Martin Daubney on GB News
GB NEWS
“How can I explain to my constituents that we’re picking up these people on small boats, putting them in hotels and we’re spending all this on migrants who have no right to be here.
“It’s alright Mrs Jones, a 90-year-old who has worked all your life, we’re going to take your winter fuel payment off you. It’s an absolute disgrace and this country should be ashamed.”
House of Commons leader Lucy Powell has insisted the country faced economic crash if the measure was not imposed.
Powell said there was “no alternative” and the decision was needed to avoid an economic catastrophe.
Winter fuel payments have been cut for millions of pensioners
PA“This is one of those very difficult decisions we had to take,” she told Times Radio.
“But we have faced this huge additional black hole for this current financial year, borrowing higher than anybody understood.
“If we hadn’t taken some of these tough decisions we could have seen a run on the pound, interest rates going up and crashing the economy.
“It’s something we were left with no alternative but to do.”