GMB's Martin Lewis confronts Lisa Nandy over government's decision to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners

The Money Saving Expert founder was left exasperated as he grilled the Culture Secretary on the government's decision to axe winter fuel payments for the majority of pensioners

Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, has challenged Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy over the government's contentious decision to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. During a heated exchange on Good Morning Britain, Mr Lewis questioned the Culture Secretary, asking: "Why are you defending this? "

He pointed out that Ms Nandy has long been an advocate for society's poorest and found it strange that she was defending a policy causing concern among charities.

The government is under significant pressure to reverse its decision to scrap the £300 winter fuel payments for most pensioners. Changes announced in July mean only the poorest pensioners, those on pension credit or other benefits, will be eligible for the support.

However, approximately 780,000 people who are eligible for pension credit have not yet applied, raising concerns that many of the poorest may miss out. Ms Nandy stated that the government has made a "huge drive" to get the poorest pensioners on pension credit, resulting in a 115% increase in claimants.

However, Mr Lewis countered her argument on Good Morning Britain, stating: "There is a huge flaw in what you've said."

Martin Lewis has criticised the government's current trajectory, stating it would take four years before all eligible individuals are signed up for support and not missing out. "You believe they should get pension credit and winter fuel, but they're not going to claim. They are the hardest to reach, you're not writing individual letters to them," he said, reports the Mirror.

He further added: "There's lots you could do. So to try and talk about it, 'we're targeting the poorest'.. The truth is you're not targeting them. Why aren't you writing them bloody letters?

But Ms Nandy stressed the government is writing eligible pensioners letters, adding: " However, Ms Nandy insisted that the government is indeed sending letters to eligible pensioners, saying: "I know how strongly you feel about it, Martin. We do take very seriously what you say, what Age UK says, and we're working with the widest range of people to make sure that we do reach those people. In fairness you've just said to me you're not writing them bloody letters, well we are. I just wanted to explain that because I don't want people to think for a moment we're going to leave them high and dry."

Despite this, Mr Lewis, who has been campaigning on the issue, argued that the government must accept hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners "will not be reached this year". He concluded: "You are taking money out of their hands. Do you accept the truth, the reality is, that is what will practically happen? Let's be honest, you're willing to accept that collateral damage of hundreds of thousands of pensioners - many [with] dementia - not getting the winter fuel payment."

Ms Nandy answered firmly, saying: "No, I'm not willing to accept that. It's one of the reasons we've extended the cut-off point to apply [for pension credit] until April next year. Even if people don't realise right now despite this sort of conversation happening on national media... they find out later they are still eligible, they can still apply, they will get it backdated."