The minister pressed for estimates of deaths of pensioners linked to the cut in winter fuel payments

The work and pensions secretary declined to give a figure on how many pensioners the government thinks could die this winter because of changes to fuel payments.

Asked by her Conservative shadow Mel Stride about “premature deaths”, Liz Kendall instead suggested the Tories should “apologise” for leading another 200,000 pensioners into poverty.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Darling said Ms Kendall was “absolutely right about how the previous government failed (pensors)”, but said streamlining the previously universal payment system was “an insult to the injury”.

The government has scrapped the universal scheme and will instead provide winter fuel payments of up to £300 to pensioners who receive some means-tested benefits, including pension credit and universal credit.

Mr Stride, shadow work and pensions minister, pointed to Labor research from 2017 when his party proposed a means-tested winter fuel payments scheme in its manifesto, which suggested almost 4,000 pensioners would die as a result of the policy.

He asked: “Does (Ms Kendall) stand by that figure of around 4,000? If not, how many premature deaths do you think will occur as a result of this policy?”

The Cabinet minister said: “His party’s manifesto in 2017 promised to means test winter fuel payments.

This was not a decision we wanted or expected to make. The reason we have done this is because we have to deal with the £22 billion black hole in the public finances that MPs have left behind

“So I would just tell (Mr Stride) until the party members opposite know that they are rooting for the British people for the 200,000 extra pensioners in poverty over the last 14 years and for a black hole in the public domain worth £22 billion “If we improve the finances that we are fixing now and that are putting the public finances at risk, they will stay in those seats and we will stay in those seats.”

Ms Kendall said she would “like to bring these figures into the public debate” which point to an additional 200,000 pensioners in poverty.

Mr Stride later said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Treasury had published impact assessments on the policy change on September 13, responding to Freedom of Information requests, just three days after a House of Commons debate on the winter fuel payment.

The DWP found that 83% of pensioners over 80 would not receive payments.

“We have published an equality analysis,” Ms Kendall told MPs.

“This government will be open and transparent, and we are already doing that.”

Mr Darling told the House of Commons: “There are 2.7 million pensioners over the age of 80 who would benefit from the £300 winter fuel allowance. “They are among the most vulnerable in our society and you are absolutely right, how the previous government failed them.

“But let’s not make things worse because the new government has let them down.”

Mr Darling added: “Can you reassure us that you will reverse this regressive approach you have taken to the winter fuel allowance and not target the most vulnerable over 80?”

Ms Kendall said: “He will know that this was not a decision we wanted or expected to make.

“The reason we have done this is because we have to deal with the £22bn black hole in the public finances left by opposition MPs, but in doing so, as a progressive party, we are always pandering to the poorest pensioners “Why we are so determined to put an end to a situation where up to 880,000 people are going without winter fuel because they don’t receive pension credit, and we are determined to put that right.” “