THIS Labour government cannot be trusted.

Prior to the general election, it had no plans to discontinue the winter fuel payment to pensioners.

Post-election, it has chosen to means test the payment which Age Concern has calculated will plunge two million pensioners into hardship this coming winter.

If Chancellor Rachel Reeves could get away with it, my belief is she would means-test the state pension. It is only the costs that would be involved in such an exercise that is stopping her.

A pensioner who worked all their life, has contributed through taxation to the welfare pot . . . and it is only right that all should receive any payment like the winter fuel payment.

As for those pensioners who are financially well off and don’t depend on the payment, they are free to give it away to a worthy cause of their choosing.

Of course, the real issue is that the state pension is too meagre.

If we all received a decent pension when we retire, there would be no need for special, one-off payments.

Phil Jones, Greasby