CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves pledged to press ahead with her winter fuel squeeze on pensioners today despite warnings that she is risking a public health crisis.

The government summoned bosses from the big energy monopolies to talks on helping vulnerable households this winter, but indicated there would be no U-turn on the decision to withdraw help with bills from more than nine million pensioners.

Echoing premier Sir Keir Starmer’s misery message, Ms Reeves has claimed it was a “tough decision” mandated by the “black hole” in public finances inherited from the Tories.