Mr Duncan-Jordan has been suspended by Labour (Image: File)

       A Labour MP who agreed with the Daily Express that axing Winter Fuel Payments would cause misery for millions - and even kill the most vulnerable - is among those disciplined by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

       Neil Duncan-Jordan won the Poole seat at last year's general election by just 18 votes and in one of his first acts, rebelled against the Government over its cold weather cash grab.

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       Sources say the trade unionist, who used to work for the National Pensioners Convention, had his card marked for an act of treachery that saw him abstain on the vote.

       He was one of the few Labour MPs who backed our campaign, saying the removal of the annual payment was being imposed "without prior consolation or without an impact assessment [and] with insufficient time to put in place a proper and effective take-up campaign for Pension Credit".

       National embarrassment: Reeves was forced to make a humiliating u-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment (Image: Getty Images)

       Duncan-Jordan also said a "bureaucratic and unpopular means test undermines the benefits of universalism" and could see frail and vulnerable people susceptible to hypothermia - a life-threatening condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

       However, his brave and early rebellion stood him out as a troublemaker and caused massive embarrassment to the Labour Party hierarchy, and？ especially Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

       He is now among four MPs suspended for repeated breaches of party discipline. Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, and Rachael Maskell have also lost the whip, meaning they are no longer part of Labour's parliamentary party and now sit as independent MPs.

       Three other MPs - GP Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin - have had their trade envoy roles removed.

       In one of its first acts after winning last year’s general election, Labour axed the annual cash payment and said only those in receipt of pension credit would get it. It meant that instead of cash being automatically paid to 10.8 million pensioners in England and Wales, the number of recipients was slashed to 1.5 million.

       The annual cash payment, a lump sum introduced by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown to all pensioners since 1997, was officially scrapped on September 16 with only those subject to and passing a humiliating means-test qualifying.

       Only those in receipt of Pension Credit - which around 900,000 OAPs are still too proud to claim - or certain other benefits were entitled to cash.

       The move sparked national outrage - including from Duncan-Jordan - but it was only after relentless pressure from the Express that Ms Reeves was forced to make a chastening about-turn and reinstate the benefit.

       Ms Whately said dithering Sir Keir Starmer had caused chaos, confusion and division (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)

       This winter the payment of ￡200 per household, or ￡300 per household where there is someone over 80, will be made automatically, meaning about 9 million will be eligible.

       The final straw for Labour top brass was when Duncan-Jordan voted against the Welfare Bill earlier this month, describing it as a "dog’s breakfast that isn’t really worth the paper it’s written on".

       He said: "Since being elected I have consistently spoken up for my constituents on a range of issues, including most recently on cuts to disability benefits.

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       "I understood this could come at a cost, but I couldn’t support making disabled people poorer."

       Duncan-Jordan won Poole from the Conservatives who had held the seat since 1997. He is now effectively expelled from Labour and will sit as an independent MP.

       Tory MP Helen Whately, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: "This should never have happened in the first place. The Winter Fuel Payment used to be automatic, predictable, and trusted. Labour took that away. Labour opened the door to confusion. It is now the Prime Minister’s duty to answer for the mess he made."

       Express talks to Rachel Reeves about winter fuel payments

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