HARWICH’S MP says the decision to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance was “an awful first act of government” and claimed 38,061 pensioners in Tendring could lose their allowance.

The Labour Government won a vote on Tuesday to restrict winter fuel payments to pensioners on Pension Credit – meaning a fall from 11.4 million to 1.5 million people this winter.

Just one Labour MP, John Trickett, voted against the Government but 52 Labour MPs abstained.

The Winter Fuel Allowance was an annual payment between £200 and £300 for fuel bills paid to all pensioners, but is now only for those on Pension Credit.

That is about 11 per cent of pensioners, although it is estimated 880,000 pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, said: "Yesterday I voted against removing the pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowance.

“Labour forced it through, which is an awful first act of the new Government."

He added: “The decision to scrap Winter Fuel Allowance for those not in receipt of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will mean 30,052 pensioners in Colchester and 38,061 in Tendring could lose their allowance - a loss of up to £300 for around 10 million pensioners in the country as a whole.

“I had hoped the Government would listen to the concerns raised by the Conservatives and many of their own Labour MPs, but ministers were deaf to the suffering and even deaths this will cause.

"I will continue to press for support for vulnerable pensioners and am grateful to everyone who has contacted me in recent days".

Colchester and Labour MP Pam Cox voted in favour of cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance saying: “No Labour MP wants to means-test these payments and our commitment to pensioners is steadfast.

“This Government was elected to make the tough decisions needed to fix our country for the future.

Ms Cox also said she was “very pleased” to see the state pension, available to all, increase by more than £900 this year, and an extra £400 next year - up to £221.20 a week in the 2024 to 2025 year.  

To check Pension Credit eligibility, visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or call the claim line on 0800 991234.