The SNP’s Stephen Flynn has urged Labour MPs to break the whip and vote against plans to cut the winter fuel allowance.

His call comes as Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out suspending any MP who rebels against the government in the Commons tomorrow night.

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The Prime Minister said he expects his MPs to back the “unpopular” measure.

“That will be a matter for the chief whip,” he told BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. “We’re going into a vote. I’m glad we’re having a vote, because I think it’s very important for parliament to speak on this.

“But every Labour MP was elected on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country.

“I’m absolutely convinced that we will only deliver that change, I’m absolutely determined we will, if we do the difficult things.

“Now, I know they’re unpopular, I know they’re difficult. Of course they’re tough choices.

“Tough decisions are tough decisions. Popular decisions aren’t tough, they’re easy.

“I do recognise how difficult it is for some people. I do recognise it’s really hard for some pensioners. But of course, they do rely on the NHS, they do rely on public transport. So these things aren’t completely divorced.”

(Image: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire)

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in July that the annual payout in England and Wales would be restricted to those on pension credit or certain other benefits as part of her plan to tackle a £22 billion black hole.

That left the Scottish Government with a £160 million funding shortfall, forcing them to follow suit.

The policy is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to £300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving around £1.4 billion this year.

A number of MPs are expected to rebel when MPs come to vote on a Tory motion to annul the government’s change to the regulations.

Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for Canterbury, has already said she will not vote with the Government.

Another 10 Labour MPs have signed an Early Day Motion which describes the plan as “a bureaucratic and unpopular means test” for pensioners.

However, given the size of Labour's majority, there is no chance of the Prime Minister being defeated. 

In a letter to Scottish Labour’s MP and party leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Flynn pointed to analysis by the House of Commons library which showed the number of Scottish pensioners could drop from 991,431 to 126,088.

Mr Flynn wrote: "The Labour government doesn't need to wield the axe and make these cuts.

“It is a political choice, driven by your obsession with copying Tory fiscal rules. Up to 87% of pensioners in Scotland will lose out under Labour government plans, including those on a low and modest income who are just above the pension credit threshold of £11,343 a year.

"This is not the 'change' people in Scotland were promised - and it breaks the personal pledge you made to voters during the election: ‘Read my lips: no austerity under Labour’.”

Mr Flynn added: "The last UK government hammered the economy, public services and household incomes by imposing fourteen years of cuts and Brexit.

“The last thing the UK needs now is more cuts from the Labour Party - and pensioners will face a bitter winter if these cuts go ahead.”

(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said he had “real concerns” about cuts to the winter fuel allowance, but added that Labour was dealing with a “toxic” economic legacy.

He told a press conference ahead of the annual TUC Congress in Brighton: “I don’t want to see any pensioner going into winter afraid to turn on the heating, so yes I have concerns but I recognise the difficult legacy that’s been left.

“I hope that in the Budget we can see proper support for pensioners and others who might be struggling. But I am also worried about the level of support for people wanting to go back to work, or about our members who are scared stiff of losing their job.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News: “I think it is a tough choice, and we’ve had plenty of political criticism for it, I think, which demonstrates the political pain of it.

“I’m not remotely happy about it, and I’m not remotely happy about having to say to some of my constituents, I’m sorry that I’m going into work this week to vote for something that will take money away from you.”

Nevertheless, he said pensioners “have seen what happens when politicians duck the difficult decisions”, adding: “this isn’t a Government that ducks difficult decisions or pretends you can spend money you don’t have”.