Wes Streeting grilled on winter fuel cuts as cold weather hits

       Wes Streeting was left squirming by the BBC after being put on the spot over winter fuel payment cuts.

       The Health Secretary was asked about warnings from Age UK about the freezing weather hitting Britain, as the Government faces an ongoing backlash for axing the allowance for most pensioners.

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       Mr Streeting said: "Well this is definitely a weekend to turn the heating on.

       "And I'll just remind people that the chancellor did take the decision to protect the winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners, to protect people this winter and in future winters.

       "Of course the triple lock on pensions is guaranteed so the state pension is higher this winter than it was last year and will be higher further still next year.

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       Health Secretary Wes Streeting on BBC this morning (Image: BBC BREAKFAST)

       "That's why the Chancellor has taken those decisions to make sure we protect the vulnerable this winter.

       "But I would certainly agree that this weekend is a weekend to layer up and put the heating on as well."

       The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has cold weather health alerts for all of England which remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.

       Amber alerts were issued on Thursday and will run until January 8, meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely, the UKHSA said.

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       Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the Government's decision to restrict the winter fuel allowance to only OAPs on pension credit will be put "into sharp relief" by the plunging temepratures.

       She said the charity had already been contacted by older people "worrying about what to do when this moment arrived".

       Ms Abrahams said: "We urge older people to do everything they can to stay warm, even if that means risking spending more on their heating than they feel they can afford.

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       Cold Weather Payments could be issued ahead of winter snap - are you eligible?

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       Pensioners with these 10 health conditions can get ￡434 DWP payments

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       Comments

       Rachel Reeves and the great Labour Party cash-grab flippantly fleecing your finances

       32 Comments

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       State pension could increase to ￡549 per week as government forced to reply

       Comments

       Keir Starmer is fast-resembling Grim Reaper - and no-one is safe from Labour Party

       189 Comments

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       Nine million homes across England, Scotland and Wales to face higher energy bills from to

       Comments

       "The energy companies are under an obligation to help if you are struggling and there may be support available from your local council too."

       Around 10 million pensioners have lost winter fuel payments this year under the controversial change announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the Budget.

       The Government has blamed a ￡22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they deny.