Millions of elderly Brits who lost winter fuel payments thanks to Rachel Reeves risk being left to FREEZE - as Arctic blast sweeps the UK with up to EIGHT inches of snow expected
Millions of elderly people who lost winter fuel payments risk being left to freeze as the first big snowfalls and icy temperatures sweep the country, MPs and campaigners have warned.
Pensioners worried about energy bills were urged not to turn off their heating as temperatures plummet below zero overnight, with a cold snap expected to last several days.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned extra deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, are likely as people struggle to keep indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C (64F).
It issued a six-day amber cold weather alert for all of England until Wednesday, meaning the weather is likely to impact the NHS and increase demand for services from the most vulnerable.
As many as ten million pensioners are already facing a winter with less support after Labour scrapped winter fuel payments worth up to £300.
Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said the first sustained period of cold weather this winter would bring the government's policy 'into sharp relief'.
She said the charity had already been contacted by people 'worrying about what to do' but urged them to 'do everything they can to stay warm,' adding energy companies had 'an obligation to help' those struggling financially.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, a critic of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's winter fuel policy, said £300 was 'a lot of money not to have' and old people would be scared to turn on their heating.
Millions of elderly people who lost winter fuel payments risk being left to freeze as the first big snowfalls and icy temperatures sweep the country, MPs and campaigners have warned (Stock image)
As many as ten million pensioners are already facing a winter with less support after Labour scrapped winter fuel payments worth up to £300. Pictured: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned extra deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, are likely as people struggle to keep indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C (Stock image)
'I'm very worried,' she said. 'The Government has put a lot of support into the energy companies and they have obligations to address people struggling with paying bills, but my concern is a lot of old people won't put their heating on in the first place.
'For that generation £300 is a lot of money not to have. They are scared about how they are going to pay. We haven't had a full impact assessment (of the cut in winter fuel payment) and this prolonged period of cold weather will be the first real test.'
She said there was a direct correlation between pensioners being cold and a rise in heart attack and strokes which has a knock-on effect on an NHS 'already running hot and under extreme pressure due to flu and winter bugs.'
The rift within Labour over the cut was highlighted yesterday when 20 councillors quit the party with a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
The members on Broxtowe Borough Council, including leader Milan Radulovic, claimed Sir Keir had 'abandoned traditional Labour values'.
The councillors highlighted issues including the means-testing of winter fuel payments, along with the 'betrayal' of Waspi women affected by changes to the state pension age and the response to Israel's actions in Gaza.
The constituency was won by Labour's Juliet Campbell in the July 2024 landslide.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice for much of England and Wales from noon tomorrow (Sat) until midnight on Sunday.
The Met Office has issued a snow warning between 12pm on Saturday and 9am on Monday
FRIDAY: Snow and ice warnings for Scotland, England and Northern Ireland
SATURDAY: A snow and ice alert for most of England and all of Wales begins at 12pm Saturday
SUNDAY: A snow warning begins for Scotland on Sunday, on top of the alert for England
MONDAY: The snow warning will still in place for Scotland until noon on Monday
The UK Health Security Agency imposed an amber cold health alert until January 8 which warns the weather will likely cause 'significant impacts across health and social care services'
Colder arctic air is expected to blow in and turn rain into heavy snowfalls across England and Wales tomorrow with parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England expected to see around two inches. Even London, which rarely gets any snow, could be hit.
However, wind blizzards on higher ground could dump up to 1ft 3ins in more mountainous parts of Wales and the Pennines.
Heavy snow will also potentially cause travel disruption, power cuts and some rural communities risk being cut off, forecasters say.
Today temperatures will average between 3C (37f) and 6C (43f) in England and Wales, but will drop below freezing overnight, falling to as low as -10C (14f) in snow-covered parts of Scotland.
On the Scotland situation, a Met Office spokesman said: 'Following a cold night, temperatures will struggle to climb above freezing today, although in some western areas we could see 4C or 5C.
'A low pressure system is moving in from south-west bringing some unsettled conditions over the weekend with warnings for snow and ice for much of Scotland. Keeping in mind a lot of people are expected to travel and return to work on Monday, the conditions could have an impact on the roads and our warning is in place until noon.
'Temperatures could go down to -5C. Snow-wise 2cm to 3cm [1in to 2in] is expected, and even up to 10cm to 20cm [4in to 8in] on the higher ground.
'Drivers should really take care, prepare for their journey and leave in plenty time.'
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had activated the capital's severe weather emergency protocol in a bid to protect rough sleepers as temperatures fall to -2C (28f) overnight in London and -4C (25f) near Southampton on the south coast.
The cold weather is a sharp change from December which was the fifth warmest on record, according to Met Office figures.
Temperature are forecast to drop as low as -3 in some parts of the UK on Friday
Snow blankets houses in Allenheads, Northumberland, on Thursday
An overturned car is on its roof in the snow near Gartly on the A97 in Scotland this morning
Snow on the ground in the west end of Aberdeen today after a Met Office warning for the area
Snow on the railway line between Mallaig and Fort William in the Scottish Highlands today
It also comes on the back of serious flooding in the north of England, where the risk of icy conditions is threatening to disrupt a major clean-up operation in parts of Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.
More than a month's rainfall was dumped on the region in the space of 48 hours.
A major incident was declared in Greater Manchester on New Year's Day with emergency services evacuating more than 1,300 people from their homes over 36 hours.
Around 16,000 people were left without power, major roads flooded and cars left submerged, causing millions of pounds worth of damage.
In Cheshire, the banks of the Bridgewater Canal collapsed with water pouring into surrounding fields at Little Bollington, prompting more road closures and property evacuations.
Major of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said 'once a century' weather events were now happening more frequently and questions needed to be asked about why residents received little or no warning of the rising flood waters.
Rail travel has already been disrupted following wet weather. The Far North Line between Inverness and Wick is out of action with operator ScotRail saying: 'We're dealing with three landslips: between Lairg-Rogart; at Bunchrew, near Inverness; and at Beauly.
'Flooding at Beauly has also closed the line. We'll share more information on the progress of repairs later.'
The Highland Main Line also remained closed yesterday due to flooding caused by heavy rain in the Kingussie area.
Network Rail Scotland said engineers were waiting for water levels in the Balavil Burn to fall to allow them to inspect a bridge.
A Government spokesman said: 'We will do everything possible to support vulnerable families this winter, including through the £150 Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments, while our extension of the Household Support Fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.
'Over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, while millions are set to see their state pension rise by u
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