GB News: Ben Cope says some pensioners can afford winter fuel cuts
GB News presenters Isabel Webster and Ben Leo addressed Labour's win after a vote on the plan to restrict the winter fuel payments to all but the poorest pensioners by 348 votes to 228 - secured a majority of 120.
Fifty-two Labour MPs did not take part in the vote, including seven ministers, but it is not clear how many deliberately abstained or were absent from Parliament for another reason.
Viewers raged after one show guest claimed many "pensioners are wealthy".
Isabel and Ben were joined on the programme by political commentator from Young Voices UK, Ben Cope, and the president of former Primrose League and former leader of UKIP, Henry Bolton.
But while Henry branded Labour's latest move as "cruel", show guest Ben sparked a flurry of furious comments on social media.
The GB News host quizzed: "Labour's own research found that up to 4,000 pensioners would die if this winter fuel allowance were scrapped.
"So why did Keir Starmer plough on ahead, regardless?"
Ben replied: "Overall, the reason why he has done this is because it's both fair and economical.
"There are a large number of very wealthy pensioners in the UK. In fact, they're the richest demographic with one in four being millionaires.
Don't miss...
BBC Breakfast's Nina Warhurst emotional as she comforts grieving mother [LATEST]
Strictly Come Dancing hit with another blow days before BBC show returns [TV]
Louise Minchin says she's in touch with three of her ex BBC co-stars after exit [BBC]
"We need to move away from a system where we have universal benefits for pensioners but we means test all kinds of benefits for other members of the public."
The guest added: "It's a step in the right direction - but there needs to be enough support."
Viewers flocked to X as @Max63275488 vented: "So @GBNEWS Lefties now have gone from 1 in 5 pensioners are millionaires to 1 in 4 pensioners are millionaires."
@TJ1541 fumed: "@GBNEWS did he really just say 1 in 4 Pensioners are millionaires!!!!"
While others suggested the policy could bring more difficult times branding the move "shameful".
@suecottrell10 tweeted: "Trouble is, thousands of you voted labour in!!!!"
@moorsie1 argued: "5 years of this utter s**t. Then they’ll be cast into the outer darkness again for years and years. Such is the state of British politics."
@Lord_Talbot tweeted: "Labour MP’s so excited about freezing granny. Shameful."
@RockChickMomma said: "I forecast another Winter of Discontent looming sooner or later at this rate. Wait while the youngsters who won’t remember it and who voted for him have to live through that - buyers remorse also looming ahead."
The vote was called by the Conservative opposition, who put forward a motion to block the government's plans to means-test the benefits.
Only one Labour MP, Jon Trickett, voted against the government, on what he said could "be a matter of life and death" for his constituents.
