-Removed-An acknowledgement perhaps that it was the Labour party who introduced the winter fuel payment for pensioners. (1997).
And that you've already conceded (due to your untenable position) that wealthy pensioners shouldn't receive the payment and that it should be means tested. (Which it now is, due to eligibility being determined by receipt of a means tested benefit).
Pensioners who are in genuine need of the payment and not in receipt of pension credit should be supported to apply. That is where all recent governments have failed, not just labour.
-Removed-1.4 million pensioners currently claim pension credit and so automatically are entitled to receive the winter fuel payment (as they have been means tested by virtue of receiving pension credit). - Why do you want to take away this link between pension credit and receiving the winter fuel payment, effectively taking the payment away from 1.4 million struggling pensioners? Why do you want them to be assessed again independently before they receive the payment, something that would take months to organise?
The quickest and most efficient way to ensure pensioners get the payment, who need the payment, is the current system of linking it to a means tested benefit already up and running.