The prime minister's aides are reportedly looking at ways of watering down the policy after Labour's local elections drubbing.

Downing Street has ruled out reversing cuts to the winter fuel allowance for 10mn pensioners, despite senior Labour figures blaming the policy for the party’s setbacks in local elections in England last week.

Sir Keir Starmer has defended the decision to axe winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, as calls for a reversal of the policy continue. A group of around 45 Labour MPs representing seats in northern England and the Midlands have joined those urging the government to rethink the move.