Penny Mordaunt hit out at Sir Keir Starmer over winter fuel payment cuts and the freebies row. The former Conservative MP compared the Prime Minister to Filipino politician Imelda Marcos who was known for owning 3,000 pairs of shoes. She added that Sir Keir had brought "fear to the elderly" with his controversial decision to strip millions of pensioners of the winter fuel allowance.
Her comments come as the PM is at the centre of a storm over clothing donations as he faces a backlash over axing the £300 payments to OAPs. The ex-Commons leader told the BBC 's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: "In 12 weeks the Labour Government has brought doubt to the economy, fear to the elderly and I'm afraid a touch of Imelda Marcos to the office of Prime Minister." Ms Mordaunt's comments come as Sir Keir and other senior Labour figures have faced criticism for accepting luxury gifts while announcing cuts to the winter fuel allowance.
There has been ongoing fury over the Government's decision to restrict winter fuel payments to only those on pension credit. The PM has defended receiving tens of thousands of pounds worth of donations from Labour peer Lord Alli for clothing, glasses and accommodation. He has said that it is "important" to look at a "human story" behind a donation as he defended the use of Lord Alli's luxury penthouse in London for his son to study for his GCSEs during the general election campaign.
Sir Keir has said ministers will no longer take donations for clothing .