Dozens of Labour MPs threaten to rebel over Winter Fuel Payment cuts

According to The Guardian, while few Labour MPs are considering voting against the policy in a key vote on Tuesday many are weighing up whether to abstain.

“I’d expect the vast majority of anyone who does rebel to abstain, and remain inside the tent,” said one Labour MP.

“Abstention is the new rebellion. It’s a question of defining what dissent is, and it’s probably better to do this than to jump off a cliff.”

In July, seven Labour MPs had the whip suspended after voting in favour of an SNP motion calling on the UK Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

READ MORE: Stephen Flynn writes to Anas Sarwar ahead of crunch winter fuel vote

It’s understood by many Labour MPs that a similar rebellion against government policy during Tuesday’s vote would have similar consequences for those who refuse to back Keir Starmer’s plan to majorly cut provision of the Winter Fuel Payment.

Although there is not enough disquiet amongst the ranks of Labour MPs for the vote to be lost, a large number of absences would indicate the level of open dissent Starmer is facing over his economic policies.

The Guardian states that as many as 50 MPs are considering abstaining from the vote. 

During an interview with Laura Kuennsberg on the BBC over the weekend, Starmer was asked whether he would remove the whip from Labour MPs who did not vote with the Government.

“That will be a matter for the chief whip,” he said.

“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.

John McDonnell said he would be forced to vote against Keir Starmer's Winter Fuel Payment cut (Image: Yui Mok)

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

A total of 12 Labour MPs have already signed an early day motion in the House of Commons expressing concern at the government’s plans on the Winter Fuel Payment, alongside five backbenches who had the whip suspended in July.

One of those backbenchers, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, said he was prepared to rebel once again unless ministers set out “a way of managing this that isn’t going to impact upon people in my constituency who are facing hardship”.

He added: “But if that doesn’t happen by Tuesday, I will vote against. I can’t do anything else.”

READ MORE: Keir Starmer panned for 'we have to be unpopular' claim

Another potential rebel described Labour’s plans as “politically illiterate” and said chief whips were even being quietly sympathetic behind closed doors.

“They’re getting the same volume of emails and letters that everyone is, or being stopped in the street by people who said they voted Labour and they now feel betrayed,” they told The Guardian.

“It all feels politically illiterate, and the risk is it will push a lot of people away from us.”