Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned pensioners “may even die” as a result of the Government’s “cruel policy” of cutting winter fuel payments.

She told how there are 850,000 eligible pensioners not claiming pension credit – which would make them eligible for the up to £300 cash.

Mrs Badenoch said: “If they sign up, that will cost the Treasury £2.3billion, wiping out the savings that the Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) claims she would make.

“Before the election his Chief Secretary told the public they had no plans to cut winter fuel, but they did have plans, didn’t they? Age UK say cutting the winter fuel payment with very little notice will potentially jeopardise the health and finances of millions of older people. Does he agree with Age UK that this is the last thing that pensioners and the NHS need?”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended his party’s decision to drive up pension credit claims.

He told the Commons: “We’ve been driving up with a campaign for pension credit. It’s important that everybody who’s entitled to it claims that pension credit. And she (Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch) shouldn’t claim some great victory. The record of their Government was people haven’t signed up.

“We’ve been the ones with the campaign. They should be supporting it but because of the triple lock, pensions will be going up by £470 next April. She hasn’t answered the question – her shadow chancellor (Mel Stride) said the triple lock is unsustainable. So she needs to explain how pensioners will be worse off under a Tory government.”

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said afterwards: “It is Prime Minister’s Questions.”

The Daily Express has demanded the Chancellor restore the winter fuel payment to the up to 10 million pensioners stripped of the lifeline earlier this year.