'We just can't keep warm' - listener's heartbreaking message as Starmer slammed on radio

Keir Starmer spoke to BBC Radio Lincolnshire arsenic portion of this morning's vigor interrogation circular (Image: Getty Images)

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appeared connected BBC Lincolnshire this greeting and was quizzed astir changes to the Winter Fuel Payment.

BBC presenter Sean Dunderdale asked astir the Winter Fuel Payment changes and played a clip from a worries listener named Maxine volition beryllium impacted.

She said: “We conscionable can’t support lukewarm - radical are going to die, aged radical are virtually going to die, however is helium going to unrecorded with that? Is helium going to person the courageousness to backmost down from a unspeakable decision?”

Maxine is reportedly wearing other layers and can’t enactment the heating connected this week successful the acold upwind owed to the Winter Fuel Payment cuts.

Maxine is 63 and won’t beryllium eligible for pension recognition until 67 truthful she is not eligable for pension credit.

Many person protested against cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment (Image: Getty Images)

Starmer said: “There’s the warm homes discount for radical who request that enactment and I’d happily marque that disposable to your programme truthful that radical tin get entree to it but astatine the infinitesimal and until we bring into unit the changes, the allowance is paid to everyone irrespective of whether they request it oregon not.

“And there’s a batch of pensioners who accidental ‘I don’t really request it’, and I past person to reply the question, ‘What hard decisions tin we marque to guarantee we tin usage our wealth astir effectively?’

“We’ve got problems with the NHS arsenic you know, the waiting lists are done the roof, I’ve got to bring those down, that’s not possible.”

Keir Starmer encouraged radical to cheque whether they are eligible for pension recognition (Image: Getty Images)

He added: “Many pensioners are waiting for operations, and we person to bring those waiting lists down and that’s what we’ve made a precedence successful the budget.

“But I would say, wherever radical are entitled to pension credit, I would inquire and promote them to instrumentality that up due to the fact that it’s precise important that they get that level of protection.”

Winter substance payment changes - which are expected to prevention up to £1.5 cardinal a twelvemonth - person been wide condemned by charities, absorption parties, unions and immoderate Labour politicians.

The Government faced disapproval for not carrying retired a afloat interaction appraisal into the arguable policy, which was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves successful July.