Millions of pensioners will lose winter fuel payments as government wins vote on cut

MPs have voted to cut the winter fuel payment for all but the country’s poorest pensioners.

A Tory move to block the measure was defeated by 348 to 228 votes – a majority of 120.

Labour has a working majority in the Commons of 167.

Politics Live: Starmer defends winter fuel payment cut in speech

The division list showed Labour MP Jon Trickett was the only rebel to support the Conservation motion, while no vote was recorded for 53 other Labour MPs.

This does not automatically equate to an abstention for each MP as they may have received permission to miss a vote.

Shouts of “shame” could be heard in the House of Commons chamber as the result of the vote was announced.

The cut means that from this winter only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits will receive help with their fuel bills, whereas previously the allowance was available to anyone over the age of 66.

The move is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to £300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving the exchequer around £1.4bn this year.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the squeeze in July as part of a series of measures to fill a “£22bn black hole” in the public finances.

Winter fuel payment: Are you still eligible?

However, some MPs from Labour’s own side, as well as charities and opposition MPs, have been calling for a U-turn, saying the policy will leave less well-off pensioners with “a heart-breaking choice between heating and eating this winter”.

Mr Trickett, who was in the shadow cabinet during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, said he voted against his government because he was concerned about more pensioners falling into poverty.

In a statement on X he said: “This winter will be extremely difficult for my constituents of all ages. After years of obscene profiteering by energy companies, they are hiking bills once again.”

He said that pensioner poverty “can be a matter of life and death” and he has worked “behind the scenes to try and change the government’s position, but to no avail”

“I could not in good conscience vote to make my constituents poorer,” he added.

Other Labour MPs who spoke out against the cut include Rachel Maskell, who said pensioners will be “frightened” to turn on the lights in case they cannot pay their bills.

Labour’s Debbie Abrahams was also critical of the move, saying many of Sir Keir Startmer’s measures to ease costs on households would not be in place for this winter.

Ultimately Ms Maskell abstained from the vote, while Ms Abrahams voted with her party despite the criticism.

Mel Stride, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said nine out of 10 pensioners will lose the benefit “at the most difficult time of year… when the energy price cap is going up by 10%”.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced down critics as he told union members gathered at the TUC conference in Brighton that he “owes working people the respect of economic stability” and makes “no apologies for any of the decisions we’ve had to take to begin the work of change”.

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