Carol Vorderman, 64, has been slammed on social media after claiming in a new interview that Sir Keir Starmer should “apologise” for cutting the winter fuel allowance for pensioners.
In a major milestone for the Labour government, MPs voted in favour of cutting winter fuel payments for most pensioners across the country on Tuesday as the Prime Minister vows to fill the “black hole” of debt left by the previous Conservative government.
A total of 348 MPs backed Starmer’s plans to cut the payment against the 228 who voted in opposition to the proposals.
The cuts will affect millions of pensioners as Labour vows to implement restrictions that mean only the poorest pensioners will be eligible for the benefit.
Starmer has been widely criticised for pushing through the motion just weeks after settling a pay deal with train driver unions and now Vorderman has joined the calls against the PM.
However, given Vorderman’s vocal opposition to the Tories at the last election and desire to see the Conservative Government ousted from power, many critics have hit out at the former Countdown star.
Vorderman said on Tuesday: “Genuinely, I don’t understand why they’ve done it. I do understand why you wouldn’t pay the wealthy pensioners…
“I’ll be one of those in two years’ time. So I wouldn’t need the winter fuel allowance payment.
“But to go from 12 million to less than two million pensioners receiving it is just way too low.
“And I’m shocked by it because they could raise that money in so many other ways… for instance, a few years ago in one tax year, 255 private equity managers ‘earned’ £2.7 billion between them and they didn’t pay 45 percent tax as every employee who’s earning a decent amount of money would pay.
“They have a special arrangement with HMRC at 28 percent. That could instantly generate another £600 of £700 million.”
When asked by Sky News’s Sophy Ridge what Starmer should do next, Vorderman defiantly replied: “I think he should apologise. I absolutely do.”
But several social media users have pointed out the irony in Vorderman rallying against a Labour prime minister given the role she played in campaigning for tactical voting at this year’s General Election.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan raged: “Carol Vorderman calls for apology from Sir Keir Starmer over winter fuel cut… APOLOGIES don’t keep pensioners warm!!!!! REINSTATE the allowance!!!”
“I think Carol should apologise. She campaigned hard for a Labour government,” a second added.
Elsewhere, a third hit out: “She was so vocal about supporting Labour, Voting for Labour, we need change, now she’s realised she was VERY wrong! Too late @carolvorders you helped create this vile mess!! We won’t forget!”
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WATCH HERE: Nigel Farage reacts to Labour cutting the winter fuel allowance
“You campaigned for a labour government, here it is,” a fourth criticised while a fifth raged: “Maybe she’ll take this moment to reflect on why she campaigned relentlessly for an obviously flawed candidate and party.
“In the age of information she cannot claim ignorance, my guess is that she got high on her own platform and forgot about everything else.”
However, some did praise Vorderman for not being afraid of criticising Labour’s plans despite her previous voting history.
One fan praised: “I rate @CarolVorders for saying this. It’s right Labours voters, particularly public figures who helped them win, pull Labour up on the winter fuel payments scandal.” (sic)
