Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “determined” to make tough decisions ahead of a vote on whether to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
MPs are set to vote on Tuesday on the decision to change the payment, designed to help the elderly with higher heating bills, so just those claiming pension credit are eligible.
During an official visit to Dublin on Saturday, Sir Keir refused to be drawn on whether he would punish any Labour MPs who vote against the government next week.
But he told broadcasters: “I was elected, and our government was elected with a clear mandate for change. We will only bring about that change if we stabilise our economy.
“We have looked at the books, there is £22 billion missing from the books and we have got to deal with that. I am not going to ignore it.
“We have got to take tough decisions. Targeting the winter fuel payments is a tough decision.”
He said that “safeguards” are in place for pensioners already on benefits – but added: “I am determined that we will take tough decisions because the change which is improved living standards, people feeling better off, better public services, dealing with crime and immigration and issues like that, that change will only happen if we fix the foundations now.”
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Currently, everyone aged 66 and over receives the payment.
The proposed cut is expected to reduce the number receiving the benefit, worth up to £300 a year, by 10 million – from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
The government says the move will save around £1.4bn this financial year.
Amid a backlash from opposition parties and campaign groups, ministers have been urging the 800,000 eligible pensioners who could receive pension credit to apply.
They have also said that maintaining the pensions triple lock, introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, will outstrip the cut over the coming years.
The government had previously resisted a vote on winter fuel payments.
But, following pressure from other parties who oppose the cut, Commons leader Lucy Powell announced it would be debated and voted on 10 September.
The last time Labour MPs failed to follow the whip, seven of them were suspended from the parliamentary party.
The MPs, among them former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, had the Labour whip suspended for six months for supporting an amendment to the scrapping of the two-child benefit limit.