Wes Streeting was accused of being ‘crass’ and ‘cruel’ after telling people to turn on their heating this weekend – despite slashing the Winter Fuel Payment for millions.

The Health Secretary reacted to forecasts for sub-zero temperatures this weekend by insisting older people were still being protected against the winter cold by Labour.

It comes after the party took away up to £300 in extra fuel payments from an estimated 10 million OAPs by means-testing the energy benefit instead of applying it universally.

But Mr Streeting said the cold snap had made it ‘a weekend to layer up, and put the heating on as well’, when asked about concerned elderly Britons being nervous to turn on the fire.

He added: ‘I’ll just remind people that the Chancellor did take the decision to protect winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners.’

Dennis Reed, the director of Silver Voices, a pensioner campaign group, told the Mail that Mr Streeting’s comments were ‘crass’.

He added: ‘There are several million older people struggling to put their heating on at all this winter and will be enraged by this glib comment. We wish we could put the heating on – but because he took away our Winter Fuel Payments, we can’t. He’s taken away the ability of so many pensioners to do that.’

Conservative Party chairman Nigel Huddleston said: ‘After Labour scrapped Winter Fuel Payments for millions of vulnerable pensioners, the Health Secretary’s comments that they should “put the heating on” are not only out of touch but cruel.’

Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) insisted that older people were still protected from the cold by Labour, amid forecasts for sub-zero temperatures

Wes Streeting speaking to staff and residents during a visit to Burnrigg Court Residential Care Home in Carlisle

People have been warned to avoid going outside early in the morning or late at night during the wintery weather expected over the weekend (Stock image)

The NHS has warned people not to go outside early in the morning or late at night during the snowy weather expected over the weekend. Temperatures fell as low as minus 7.4C on Thursday and may drop even further below zero again over the weekend.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: ‘Over the last few months we have heard from many thousands of older people who were worried about how they would cope when winter really took hold.

‘That moment has now come, and we know that up and down the country many pensioners will be tempted to try and ‘tough it out’ during this cold snap, and either keep their heating turned down or off altogether.

‘It has become increasingly clear that the Government’s decision to make the Winter Fuel Payment available only to pensioners who receive Pension Credit has left millions of the poorest and most vulnerable older people unprotected this winter.