presenter challenged Labour's Luke Pollard about 's u-turn demanding to known if people "can switch their heating on this winter". "A lot of our audience will be going, 'well, okay, it's all well and good. You're doing a U-turn but what's the detail?' When will they know? Winter is not that far away. They (need to) start planning. Are they going to have more money in their pocket? When are you actually going to make a proper decision and tell people where they stand and whether they can switch their heating on coming this winter," he demanded to know.

"You're right that people want that certainty, and that's why, at Prime Minister's questions this week, Keir Starmer set out that he wants to see more pensioners receive the winter fuel allowance. Because of the way that our public finances are now getting back on track, because of the growth in our economy that provides the opportunity to do that at a future fiscal event, such as a budget. Now, I think it's vital we do that. But I think also, I don't think that millionaire pensioners should be getting the winter fuel allowance," he said in response.

Pollard continued: "I think where there is extra resources available because of the good management of our economy and finances, that should go to the people who really need it.

"That's why we protected the poorest pensioners by keeping winter fuel allowance for those on pension credit and encourage more people to claim pension credit that they're entitled to if they're on low wages.

"It was right to do that, but it was also right that we kept a commitment to the triple lock, something that other parties are shedding at the moment.

"That will see pensioners on the state pension get just under £2000, pounds extra over the course of this Parliament, which is good news for them," he said.

"It's really important that we make the case and keep these under review at all times to make sure that we're supporting the people who really need it the most and that's what the Prime Minister, set out his ambition to do on Wednesday," he said.

During the interview Pollard was also asked about the fact government has awarded public sector workers, including doctors, teachers and those in the armed forces, a pay rise of around 4%.

Unions have said the increase is not enough but Kate Garraway asked if the country could afford it.

Pollard assured her that it was feasible and said they were "valuing the people who work in the public sector, giving them a decent pay rise".