Trade unions have won a vote to reverse the winter fuel payment cut, at Labour’s conference. What a pity it is non-binding.

(But then, are any conference votes binding since Keir Starmer unilaterally decided they weren’t?)

It will put pressure on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to reverse their plan to deprive millions of pensioners of up to £300 per year.

The cut means only elderly people in receipt of pension credit will receive help with their fuel bills over winter, whereas previously it was universal.

The motion was put to the conference by the UK’s largest trade union, Unite, which has accused Labour of embarking on “austerity mark two”.

General secretary Sharon Graham told delegates: “I do not understand how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.

“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.”

She called for a tax on the wealth of the UK’s richest people – words that were echoed by Alan Tate of the Communication Workers’ Union, who seconded the motion.

He said Labour should make “ultra wealthy” tech giants “pay their fair share”.

“We should be taxing them, not taking away a lifeline for vulnerable people.

“There is nothing responsible about leaving the profits of private equity and investors untouched while working people are asked to balance the books with their pay cheques and benefits.”

The vote was won – narrowly – on a show of hands, indicating that feelings run deep on both sides of the debate.

It won’t stop winter fuel payments being means-tested from now on – but it also means the debate, the ill-feeling against Labour over this cruel cut will continue for months to come.

And it will only take one death due to cold weather for that ill-feeling to erupt.

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