Changes to winter fuel payments “might leave some pensioners in a difficult financial position”, councillors in Newport have declared.

But the Labour-led city council has stopped short of agreeing to write a letter to the prime minister, Keir Starmer, urging him to reconsider his policy.

The UK Government sparked widespread criticism when it announced changes to winter fuel payments that will effectively cut the benefit for millions of pensioners who do not qualify for support.

A spokesperson for the government has defended the move, saying: “Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, it’s right we target support to those who need it most.”

In Newport, Cllr Matthew Evans, who leads the Conservative opposition group, said the policy would “leave up to 30,000 pensioners, in the Westminster constituencies covering Newport, wondering whether to heat their homes this winter or put food on their........

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