THE BARROW MP has voted with the Government rejecting a motion that would block cuts to winter fuel payments.

An opposition motion to block cuts to the allowance has failed with MPs voting down the motion by 348 to 228 in today's vote (September 10). 

People in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out under the Government’s policy. 

It 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 around £1.4 billion this year.

Michelle Scrogham, who is one of the large cohort of Labour MPs that came in after the General Election on July 4, said: "I've spent the past weeks both upset and furiously angry to be faced with it. The last Government made commitments it couldn’t pay for, covered it up and then ran away knowing someone else would have to deal with it."

Pensions minister Emma Reynolds said that the payment will be means-tested due to a '£22 billion black hole' in public finances "left by the previous government." 

READ MORE HERE: Plans to convert Barrow flats into HMO approved by council

“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," she said. 

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there were 14,700 people aged 65 and over living in Barrow on the 2021 Census Day, which is up from 12,955 in 2011, when the Census was last carried out.

"Not a single Labour MP wanted to be put in this position and none of us are comfortable with our choices today," Mrs Scrogham said. 

Mrs Scrogham also argued that energy bills are lower this year than last and that the triple lock increased the state pension by £900 in April. She said she would be running sessions offering advice to constituents on what payments they are entitled to. 

She added: "I grew up in a council house and I'm no stranger how difficult life can be. I came into politics to make a difference for people in my community, but the actions of the previous government, either deliberately or through incompetence has left a black hole in the country’s finances that threatens, if left unchecked, another crisis like the one created by the Liz Truss mini budget.

"Not all decisions made are going to please all people, but I will always work hard and try to do what’s right."

In last week's Prime Minister's Questions, leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak said: "Under the Conservative government, a low-income pensioner with just £13,000 received not only the winter fuel payment, but also hundreds of pounds of additional cost-of-living support, both of which [Sir Keir Starmer] has now scrapped."

He also asked why the Government was awarding pay rises to train drivers over keeping the winter fuel allowance.