Sir Keir Starmer has told GB News's Political Editor Christopher Hope that "conference policy doesn't make Government policy" after the party leadership lost a vote in Liverpool on Winter Fuel Payment cuts.
Thousands of pensioners are set to lose out on the £300 boost this winter and the Labour membership made their feelings clear on the matter by defying the party leadership.
Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have defended the move, saying it's necessary to plug a £22bn public finance 'black hole', and the prime minister continued to do so as he spoke to GB News in New York.
"I understand why colleagues in the Labour movement feel strongly about this", he said.
"Conference policy doesn't make Government policy. We have had to make a difficult decision. The last Government left a £22bn black hole, unaccounted for and off the books.
"We have to deal with that. That means tough decisions."
