For a brief moment last week, it looked like Labour might rethink its position on winter fuel cuts. There was a flicker of hope that they had recognised the damage their decision was causing to some of the most vulnerable people in society. But that hope quickly vanished. Instead, Labour has chosen to double down on what many view as one of the most short-sighted and harmful policies in recent years.

For older people, this isn’t just a question of cutting costs or tightening budgets. It’s a real and growing health crisis. Labour’s decision to reduce winter fuel payments left thousands of older people struggling to heat their homes through one of the coldest winters in years. We know that older people are especially vulnerable to the health risks posed by cold weather - risks that include hypothermia, respiratory illness, and heart problems.

It does also seem somehow thoughtless that this decision came in the week we celebrated VE Day - a powerful reminder of the sacrifices and contributions older generations made to secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

We may now be heading into spring, but the reality is this: the fear and anger caused by these cuts will not disappear with the warmer weather. Our latest New Ageing Index makes that clear.

Nearly half of older people say they are already worried about affording their heating bills next winter. Just as many fear what living in a cold home could mean for their health. And a staggering 80% of people believe older people are the group most harmed by this policy.

These are not abstract concerns. These are real people being forced to make impossible choices between heating their homes and affording essentials like food and medicine. This isn’t just bad policy - it’s a moral failure to protect those who have contributed so much to our society over their lifetimes.

Labour’s decision to ignore this growing crisis is not just a social misjudgement, it’s a political gamble that could cost them dearly. Older people are not just a growing demographic, they are one of the most politically active and engaged groups in the country. They show up at the ballot box. They hold governments to account. And right now, they are feeling ignored.

Older people have spent decades working, caring, and contributing to society. Yet time and again, they are left behind - whether it’s through inaction on social care or cuts to vital financial support like winter fuel payments.

Labour risks turning its back on an entire generation. And if they don’t rethink this decision soon, they may find that older voters do the same to them when the country next goes to the polls.