Labour stripping millions of pensioners of winter fuel payments is "worse than dropping the triple lock", a former pensions minister has warned.

Baroness Altmann said Sir Keir Starmer's party has "made a mockery" of its election pledge to retain the triple lock.

It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sparked a backlash for announcing that the previously universal annual payments of up to £300 will be axed older people unless they are on benefits.

Baroness Altmann wrote on her Pensions and Savings website: "For the oldest pensioners, this is equivalent to a 3.3% cut in their pensions.

"This is worse than dropping the triple lock. Instead of a minimum increase of 2.5% in the basic state pension payments from next April, pensioners have an immediate reduction.

"The Government has made a mockery of its pledge to protect the triple lock in last month’s general election.

"One of its first announcements has been to cut the money received by millions of pensioners, with over 80s at risk of losing the most."

Baroness Altmann, who worked as a pensions minister under David Cameron and now sits in the House of Lords, set out three alternative policies.

The first is rolling the yearly payment into the state pension and taxing it which would recoup some of the cost.

She also suggested increasing the 25 pence a week age addition added to the state pension for over 80s to the equivalent of the winter fuel payment.

The pensions expert also suggested treating winter fuel payments like child benefit and only withdraw it from higher rate taxpayers.

Baroness Altmann added: "This is the wrong political choice – pensioners should not be targeted to fix the fiscal deficit:

"Pensioners are not all well-off and many struggle to make ends meet, living frugally on far less than most younger people.

"I do hope the Government will recognise that this is not right, it will cause real hardship and needs to be urgently reconsidered.

"Saving the £1.4billion this year, by making pensioners pay for the fiscal overspend, is a political choice. And in my view it is the wrong one."

Winter fuel payments have previously been available to everyone above state pension age, but from this winter only those who receive pension credit will be eligible.

Ms Reeves blamed the move, which means just under 10 million pensioners will miss out on the payments, on the state of the public finances.