How did Gedling borough’s MPs vote in debate on winter fuel payments?

Attempts by the opposition to block the cutting of the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners have been defeated.

The Conservatives put forward a proposal to block the cutting of the payment, which was voted on by MPs at the Houses of Parliament, but that was defeated by a majority of 120.

MPs voted 348 to 228 against the motion with opposition parties like the SNP and Greens joining the Conservatives voting for the block.

After the result was announced, shouts of “shame” could be heard across the House of Commons chamber.

The move is set to save the government around £1.4billion this year.

So, this winter only people claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits, over the age of 66, will get help with fuel bills.

We have two MPs on patch, our Gedling representative Michael Payne and Sherwood MP, Michelle Welsh. Both are, as you will know, Labour MPs who were elected to their constituencies in May this year.

Both Labour MPs supported the government.

Gedling Borough’s Conservative Councillors expressed their dismay at Payne and Welsh both voting to scrap the Winter Fuel Payments for 22,271 pensioners across Gedling Borough.

They said “a number of their Labour colleagues abstained and some even voted against the Labour Government’s cut, but Michael Payne and Michelle Welsh chose to vote to scrap the Winter Fuel Payments.  This is a real kick in the teeth to 22,271 pensioners across Gedling Borough who do not quite qualify for Pension Credit and needed that Winter Fuel Allowance to help with keeping warm this winter with fuel bills expected to rise in the coming months.”

Older people’s organisations were also disappointed and said it was unfair to take away the payment from millions of people when bills are rising.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: “We’re deeply disappointed, but not surprised, that the vote to brutally means-test WFP was passed today.

“As soon as the Government announced it was instructing its MPs to support it this was the inevitable result, but we would like to thank all those in every party who voted against the policy or abstained.”

 “There’s been a lot of discussion about the Government’s decision, but at heart Age UK’s critique of their policy is really simple: we just don’t think it’s fair to remove the payment from the 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes who badly need it, and to do it so quickly this winter, at the same time as energy bills are rising by 10%.”