The Labour government's plan to eliminate winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners has faced intense backlash from unions and some party members, with polls indicating that half of elderly Brits will reduce heating this winter. Chancellor Rachel Reeves maintains that pensioners will be better off financially, despite critics warning that the cut will push many into fuel poverty. As Labour prepares for a parliamentary vote on this issue, Sir Keir Starmer is also set to address the Trades Union Congress, promising to end attacks on unions and promote a partnership approach between businesses and labor. Union leaders have called for significant investments in public services and infrastructure, urging the government to tax unearned wealth from the richest to support economic stability. They demand the repeal of all anti-strike laws from the Thatcher era, emphasizing the need for a proactive industrial strategy. Starmer faces pressure to balance fiscal responsibility with the urgent demands of union leaders and party members, especially in light of potential electoral repercussions.