County Durham MP for 'snowiest village' in England grills Chancellor over winter fuel allowance

The MP who represents England's "snowiest village" has asked the Government what they are doing to ensure pensioners do not struggle this winter, on the back of cuts to winter fuel payments.

Sam Rushworth, who is the Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, said: "The village of Copley in my constituency is the snowiest in England and we have many pensioners in receipt of the basic state pension who are nonetheless in fuel poverty.

"They're not entitled to pension credit. They live in cold, stone-built houses. What assurance can the Chancellor give to those pensioners that this Government will help to warm their homes and they do not struggle to heat their homes this winter?"

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has come under fire from charities and MPs, including her own, over the cuts to the winter fuel allowance, with worries that pensioners, who are not entitled to pension credit, will not be able to heat their homes.

Age UK has called on the government to reverse its decision, with a petition created by the charity signed by nearly 500,000 people. But the Chancellor replied to Mr Rushworth, saying: "This Government has committed to insulating an additional five million homes during the course of this Parliament to ensure that energy bills are as low as they can possibly be, saving people money and ensuring their homes are warmer."

Ms Reeves has blamed the situation on the previous government, claiming there was a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, whilst also adding that increases to the state pension and lower energy bills will mean some constituents will be £900 better off than they were a year ago.

The Chancellor added that the insulation of five million homes and increases in the basic state pension "will help his (Mr Rushworth) constituents in Copley and constituents all across the country.”