Wes Streeting has been slammed after telling pensioners to ‘wrap up and keep warm’ amid a row over the Government stripping millions of the winter fuel payment.

The Health Secretary used a TV interview to say this is ‘definitely a weekend to turn the heating on’ with freezing weather forecast across a large chunk of Britain.

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 12pm on Saturday until 9am on Monday and covers most of England and Wales, while a separate warning for heavy snow from midnight on Sunday until 12pm on Monday has been issued for most of mainland Scotland.

Age UK said 2.5 million people need the winter fuel allowance but will not receive it after the Government made changes to who is eligible.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced last July that the winter fuel payment would be mainly limited to those receiving pension credit.

Mr Streeting told BBC Breakfast: ‘We are heading into a cold snap this weekend and I know there are lots of concerns, not just amongst charity leaders, but also among NHS and social care leaders as well, about the particular risks and vulnerabilities this weekend as temperatures drop, both in terms of risk of accident and injury, but also risk from the cold itself.

‘This is a weekend to wrap up and keep warm, to take sensible precautions about going out and about.’

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Darling said: ‘The Health Secretary has missed the point. Many pensioners cannot afford to turn their heating up thanks to Labour’s ill-conceived decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for millions.

The Health Secretary used a TV interview to say this is ‘definitely a weekend to turn the heating on’ with freezing weather forecast across a large chunk of Britain

Age UK said 2.5million people need the winter fuel allowance but will not receive it after the Government made changes to who is eligible

‘We are about to see the heartbreaking and frankly dangerous consequences of this plan as temperatures plummet and older people are forced to freeze.

‘Instead of asking pensioners to layer up, the Government should instead pay up and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments.’

Mr Streeting’s comments also triggered anger on X, with one user, Mark Vipond, saying: ”’This is definitely a weekend to turn the heating on”. Right up there with ”Let them eat cake”. Shameful.’

And Kevin Edger posted: ‘Many pensioners can’t afford to turn the heating in, because Labour took the winter fuel allowance off them.’

Paul Quibbell-Smith added: ‘He makes my blood boil ..OAPS have been let down and allowance should not of (sic) been scrapped.’

Mr Streeting was told Age UK has said elderly and vulnerable people who are cold should go into debt rather than risk their health.

He responded: ‘Well, this is definitely a weekend to turn the heating on, and I’ll just remind people that the Chancellor did take the decision to protect winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners, to protect people this winter and in future winters.

‘And of course, the triple lock on pensions is guaranteed, so the state pension is higher this winter than it was last year, and will be higher further still next year.

‘That’s why the Chancellor has taken those decisions to make sure that we protect the vulnerable this winter.

‘But I would certainly agree that this weekend is a weekend to layer up and put the heating on as well.’

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 12pm on Saturday until 9am on Monday and covers most of England and Wales, while a separate warning for heavy snow from midnight on Sunday until 12pm on Monday has been issued for most of mainland Scotland.