Winter fuel pay decision ‘brutal’ and could lead to deaths, says Labour MP

Rosie Duffield latest MP to voice concerns as she reveals letters from cancer patients worried about keeping warm

• Labour ministers reveal grave concerns about winter fuel payment cut

The Labour MP Rosie Duffield says scrapping the winter fuel payment for all pensioners in England and Wales is a brutal" decision, which, she fears, could lead to people to die.

The government announced in July plans to scrap winter fuel payments of up to 300 for pensioners in England and Wales unless they are in receipt of means-tested benefits. Up to 10 million people are at risk of losing the payment, which was introduced by the Labour government in 1997.