It came after days of protests, led by Unite and the CWU, against the decision to make the payment means-tested, as part of cost-cutting plans by Rachel Reeves.
Sir Keir Starmer was given a symbolic bloody nose by trade unions today as the Labour Party conference voted to reinstate universal winter fuel payments for pensioners.
Sir Keir was not present for a debate on the controversial policy at the conference in Liverpool. Although the loss is only symbolic, because the decision has been voted into law, it underlines the scale of anger at the government on the issue. It came after days of protests, led by Unite and the Communication Workers Union , against the decision to make the payment means-tested, as part of cost-cutting plans by Rachel Reeves .Addressing conference, Unite secretary general Sharon Graham blasted ministers for cutting cash handouts for the old while leaving the superrich 'untouched', adding: 'This is not what people voted for, it's the wrong decision and it needs to be reversed.
'We inherited a really damaged economy, we did an audit and we discovered an undisclosed £22billion black hole this year, which we have to fix.' The conference motion to reinstate universal winter fuel payments was originally set to be debated on Monday - but was rescheduled for after Sir Keir had given his big speech and departed amid rumours of backroom manoeuvring.
'We won't get any gold badges for shaving peanuts off our debt. These fiscal rules are self-imposed and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks.'
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