MPs to vote on winter fuel allowance cuts as Labour backbench unease grows

Binding vote to take place next Tuesday and several Labour MPs sign motion asking for move to be reconsidered

The Labour government has confirmed there will be a binding vote on whether to axe the winter fuel allowance for all but the poorest pensioners, as unease grows within the party about backing the plans.

The vote will take place next Tuesday after the Conservatives submitted a motion to annul the government's change to regulations - a change that ordinarily would not be subject to a vote. Labour had said previously there would be no vote on the measure.