Labour conference live: Pressure on Starmer as he faces union vote to reverse ‘cruel’ winter fuel payments cut
Prime minister hit by motion from angry unions to reverse plans to cut winter fuel allowance
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Sir Keir Starmer is facing a vote from unions and Labour members to reverse the controversial cut to the winter fuel payments.
The non-binding motion will be debated today during Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool which is expected to receive strong support from unions.
Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will put forward the motion. General secretary Sharon Graham described the policy as “cruel” and has called on the prime minister to admit he made a “misstep”.
The vote calls for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be reversed and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.
The prime minister said in his conference speech on Tuesday that he understood concern over the winter fuel allowance but stressed that stabilising the economy was the first step of a long-term plan, adding: “Every pensioner will be better off with Labour.”
Sir Keir has now left the conference to join world leaders at the United Nations with a promise to deliver “global leadership” as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out conflict and the bloody war in Ukraine grinds on.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
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Unite boss leads ‘save the winter fuel’ protest at Labour conference
The boss of Labour’s biggest union backer Unite has led a protest at party’s conference calling for Sir Keir Starmer to “save the winter fuel”, our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports from the Labour conference.
Left-winger Sharon Graham and Unite members chanted the slogan ahead of a crunch vote on the government’s plan to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The protest took place at the Unite stand in the venue.
The move has been approved by parliament but the vote could still prove embarrassing for Sir Keir, showing that he is out of step with his party on the issue.
The session to consider their motion begins at 10.40am and the vote is expected from 11.35am.
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Ukraine’s desire to use western missiles to strike targets in Russia will not be the “sole issue” in Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan”, Sir Keir Starmer said.
The US and UK have so far refused to give Kyiv permission to use the missiles they have supplied against targets in Russia, despite repeated pleas from Mr Zelensky.
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“Obviously, President Zelensky has a plan that he wants to walk through with all of us – we knew that was going to happen.
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What does the union’s vote to reverse fuel winter allowance cuts mean for Starmer?
Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will attempt to put forward a motion to reverse the winter fuel allowance cut.
Delegates and Labour members are all expected to vote on the controversial measure this morning.
But the motion at the Labour Party conference is non-binding, and Downing Street is not required to respond.
However, the vote represents a major division within the party with Sir Keir Starmer facing further pressure to make a U-turn on the policy.
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