Millions to lose Winter Fuel Payment as MPs vote in favour of benefit being means-tested

MPs have voted to make the Winter Fuel Payment means-tested in the House of Commons.

They voted against a Tory attempt to block the Labour Government's plans to stop all pensioners receiving the benefit by 348 votes to 228 on Tuesday afternoon.

Only one Labour backbencher opposed the Government in supporting the Conservative motion.

Some 53 MPs - including seven ministers - had no vote recorded.

Having no vote recorded does not necessarily mean that an MP actively chose to abstain – for example, some may be unable to attend due to other commitments.

As well as the ministers, it is understood some on the list had been “slipped”, meaning they were given permission not to attend.

But 15 of the Labour MPs who signed a motion which called on the Government to delay implementing the cut were among those on the list.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves caused anger in July when she announced plans to take up to £300 from ten million pensioners by means-testing the payment.

Her proposals, designed to save £1.5bn, have been criticised as older people on modest incomes will lose out at a time of rising energy costs.

Around 900,000 older Scots will miss out due to the cut. Most of those who are still eligible for the payment receive Pension Credit.

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The Scottish Government has delayed plans to provide a similar universal benefit this winter due to a lack of funding.

It blamed a loss of £160 million through the decision taken by the UK Government.

It comes after former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard urged the UK Government to scrap the plans.

Leonard told the Record: "For me the treatment of our older citizens is a test of our values as a society.

"We know the oldest pensioners are the poorest pensioners: many of them older women with no occupational pensions.

"And we know that providing universal support to reach everyone who needs it is not only morally right, it is much cheaper than means testing.

"This plan should be scrapped and replaced with a wealth tax.”

A Labour minister had said earlier on Tuesday that there are “plenty of very wealthy pensioners” who do not need the winter fuel payment.

In a Westminster Hall debate work and pensions minister Emma Reynolds said: “In protecting the poorest pensioners on the lowest incomes and with the greatest need, it is the right decision given the tough choices that we face.

“Just to be very, very clear, I have spoken to a number of (MPs) present about the Government’s decision and there actually is fairly widespread agreement that this benefit should not be universal.

“There are plenty of very wealthy pensioners who are getting transfers of £200, or £300 if they’re over 80, into their bank account and who don’t need it, so it’s right that we target this support on the poorest pensioners.”

SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn said:

"Anas Sarwar has failed another key test as his Labour MPs rubber-stamped damaging cuts to the incomes of around 860,000 Scottish pensioners

"Voters in Scotland were promised 'change' but instead the Labour Party is wielding the austerity axe and cutting billions of pounds from public services and household incomes.

"SNP MPs voted against these cuts, which will see the majority of pensioners lose £500 a year in winter fuel payments and cut more than £100million from Scotland's budget.

"It's shameful that Labour MPs have broken their promise to voters and imposed these cuts - showing they can't be trusted to stand up for Scotland's interests.

"During the election Anas Sarwar pledged 'Read my lips: no austerity under Labour' but his words have turned out to be worthless.

"In contrast, the SNP will continue to press the UK government to reverse these draconian cuts, support pensioners and deliver the investment boost our public services need."

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