Labour is rethinking its controversial winter fuel cuts after Reform's roaring success at the polls last week.
MPs have even started to fear that the party's stance on the payments could cost them the next election, The Guardian has claimed.
Sir Keir Starmer's top team is now searching for ways to calm simmering tensions as Labour MPs increasingly sound the alarm over the controversial move made shortly after the Labour leader was handed the keys to No10.
It is claimed plans could include raising the £11,500 threshold when pensioners are no longer able to collect the payment, although a full U-turn is not expected.
Keir Starmer's MPs have cried out against the winter fuel and welfare cuts
PA
Starmer's MPs have cried out against the winter fuel and welfare cuts - both of which have generated mammoth animosity within the party and beyond.
However, Government plans are reportedly only halfway through, as a "stage two" of cuts is expected later in the year.
During the local election campaign, activists out on the doorstep reported back to party officials that benefits was a key issue at the doorstep and believe it was one of the reasons behind why Labour bled votes to Reform at the nail-biting Runcorn & Helsby by-election.
Issuing a stark wake-up call for Labour, one Government minister said: "It comes up on the doorstep all the time.
"Winter fuel will lose us the next election, it was a terrible mistake. But it’s probably too late for a U-turn now."
LABOUR LATEST:
Just 12 hours after polls closed on Thursday night, Starmer was promptly dragged through the mud by some of his own, including the newly-elected Doncaster mayor Ros Jones who managed to win her region with a wafer-thin margin.
After she won by a nail-biting margin of 698 in Yorkshire, Jones urged Starmer to begin responding to those calling for the party to backtrack on its stance on winter fuel and welfare cuts, as well as a stifling national insurance hike.
Echoing Jones' criticism, Diane Abbott took to X to back her Labour colleague, saying: "Mayor Ros Jones is right on this. The Labour leadership should be listening to voters on winter fuel payments, welfare cuts, the cost of living, the NHS and energy bills.
"Instead, it is attacking our own voters."
In a similar criticism on Labour's track record over the past 10 months, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth Brian Leishman said: "Runcorn shows Labour must change course.
"People voted for real change last July and an end to austerity.
"The first 10 months haven’t been good enough or what the people want and if we don’t improve people’s living standards then the next Government will be an extreme right wing one."
Thursday night was considered a litmus test for Nigel Farage's genuine electability
GETTY
On a momentous day for Reform UK, the historic round of local elections recorded a 17 per cent swing from Labour to Farage's party.
The Runcorn & Helsby constituency was a much-anticipated electoral race, as the Labour candidate was hot on the heels of Reform's newest MP Sarah Pochin.
Despite the miniscule margin, the by-election marked a massive victory for the populist party, establishing a brand new record for the smallest margin at a parliamentary by-election since 1945.
The night was considered a litmus test for Farage's genuine electability - something which he has appeared to surpass with flying colours.
GB News has contacted Labour and No10 for comment.
