UNITE general secretary Sharon Graham has accused Labour of “pickpocketing pensioners” and pitting them against workers through its plans to cut eligibility for winter fuel payments.

She has told Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to “accept it’s an error” and  instead impose a wealth tax on the super-rich in the forthcoming Budget.

Ahead of the TUC Congress opening in Brighton today, she told the Sunday Mirror: “This whole piece around ‘there is no money:’ We've got a situation with pensioners being pickpocketed.