Labour MPs have broadly welcomed the government's decision to reinstate winter fuel payments for three-quarters of pensioners but some are using the U-turn to renew their calls for planned benefit cuts to be reversed.

Keir Starmer’s government said more than three-quarters of pensioners in England and Wales will receive cold weather fuel payments this winter, reversing the bulk of a cut to the benefit that many of his lawmakers blamed for the ruling Labour Party’s waning popularity.

Rachel Reeves finally confirmed Labour’s rumoured U-turn on the winter fuel cut for pensioners this lunchtime, completing a humiliating climb down for the Government and reinstating the payments for around nine million elderly people.