Keir Starmer’s critics within Labour are joining forces to demand the party “must not lurch to the right” in response to Reform’s election triumphs. Senior figures critical of cuts to winter fuel payments and the decision to slash aid budgets are to speak at a conference on May 31.

They include former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who has warned that welfare cuts helped cost Labour victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. In an email inviting to activists to the event, organised by think tank Compass, she said: “We must not lurch to the right. It is now urgent that we develop a vision and a strategy that is confident in our values.”

Other speakers include Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who said following last week’s local election results that Labour was being damaged by “all of these poor decisions that are being made” including the decision to refuse compensation to “Waspi” women hit by the state pension age increase.

She warned: “Policies that have been introduced since July that weren’t in our manifesto – the cuts to winter fuel, not honouring the Waspi women, taking away the vital lifeline of support for disabled people – of course people are confused.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will also speak. He has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider cuts to winter fuel payments so that more pensioners keep the benefit.

While most of those taking part are on the centre-left they also include left-wing MP Nadia Whittome, a staunch supporter of Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour leader. She warned over the weekend: “These policies are angering previously loyal voters and leading them to stay at home or vote for other parties.”

Former International Development Secretary Clare Short, a fierce critic of Sir Keir’s Government, is another speaker She has attacked the decision to increase defence spending by cutting the aid budget from 0.5 to 0.3% of GDP, saying earlier this year: “I am afraid that, in many respects, this is simply not a Labour government.”

Some Labour MPs are alarmed by Sir Keir’s pledge to go “further and faster” in response to election defeats, as it suggests there will be no changes in policy. There is also concern that the Government plans to attempt to outflank Reform on immigration, including by boasting about increases in deportations.

An analysis of last week’s local elections by professor Sir John Curtice found Reform received 31% of the vote with Conservatives on 23%, Liberal Democrats on 17% and Labour on 14%.

While this partly reflects the areas where voting took place, largely county councils where Labour has traditionally performed badly, it still marks a sharp decline from 2021 local elections held largely in the same places, where Labour gained 27% of the vote.

The Government is in dissaray over Winter Fuel Payment means-testing after it was reported that Ministers are considering a u-turn, only for Downing Street to rule it out.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The policy is set out, there will not be a change to the Government’s policy.”

He added that the decision “was one that we had to take to ensure economic stability and repair the public finances following the £22 billion black hole left by the previous government”.

He also pointed to an expected £1,900 increase in the state pension over the course of the Parliament and an extension to the household support fund as ways the Government was supporting pensioners.