Lee Anderson launched a blistering attack on Labour for stripping pensioners of winter fuel payents.

The Reform MP said it was an “absolute disgrace” that most older people are set to lose the payments under plans unveiled by Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

The Ashfield MP told GB News: “We are sending about £11 billion or £12 billion a year 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, many of them doing difficult jobs, not got a big state pension.

“If they are just over that threshold above the pension credit limit then they lose £300 a year. It’s criminal.

“How can I explain to my constituents that people coming on small boats, we’re picking them up, we’re putting them in hotels and we’re spending on these illegal 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 of itself.”

Mr Anderson insisted there should be a vote on the policy in the House of Commons.

The former Tory deputy chairman said: “Hopefully we can get an opposition day debate on the winter fuel payments at some stage, no doubt the Labour Party will try and kick it into the long grass.

“There was no debate about this, it wasn’t in their manifesto, they found this imaginary black hole of £22 billion.

“They have really upset millions of pensioners across this country. Sir Keir Starmer lied over this, he has been dishonest and deceitful.

“Imagine if Reform or the Conservative had made this decision, they’d have been up in arms.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sparked a furious backlash with her announcement that winter fuel payments would be restricted to those on pension credit.

The payments of up to £300 a year were previously available to all pensioners regardless of income.

Ms Reeves blamed the state of the public finances and accused the Tories of leaving a £22 billion black hole.

But the move has prompted criticism from opposition parties, charities and even some Labour MPs.

Labour’s election manifesto committed to keeping the state pension triple lock but winter fuel payments were not mentioned in the document.

Sir Keir today insisted the decision, which is intended to save around £1.5 billion this year, would help “fix the foundations of our economy”.