winter fuel payments
"Going to war with pensioners was always going to be a gamble and so far it doesn’t look like it is paying off."
Richard Burgon said he cannot support the government's plan to axe the payment from millions of old people.
"You made this particular choice. You didn't find it difficult because you made it."
When Starmer was in the shadow cabinet, the party called the idea "single biggest attack on pensioners in a generation in our country".
"They are choices! They are decisions! This is a decision your government is making," Sally Nugent pointed out, repeatedly.
"If they are more comfortable hanging out with Jeremy Corbyn and his friends, they should just be honest about it," said a party source.
The chancellor and prime minister are braced for another backbench rebellion.
Her Tory leadership rivals have leapt on the remarks.
Lucy Powell previously suggested cutting winter fuel payments stopped "the economy crashing". Bridget Phillipson seemed less sure.
Commons leader Lucy Powell said there could have been "a run on the pound" if the government had not reduced spending.