Up to 2m pensioners will struggle without winter fuel help, say campaigners

Charities warn that means testing as part of Rachel Reeves’ estimated £1.5bn cuts may create ‘heat or eat’ dilemmas

Up to 2 million financially struggling older people could lose annual payments worth hundreds of pounds under government plans to restrict the winter fuel allowance to the poorest pensioners, campaigners have warned.

Rachel Reeves announced the plans in a speech on Monday outlining a series of spending cuts to help fill what the government says is a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances.