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Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Sir Keir Starmer has seen off a backbench rebellion over plans to cut the winter fuel allowance but the Government’s majority on the matter fell to 120.
MPs voted 348 to 228 to axe the payment for all but the country’s poorest pensioners, rejecting a Tory bid for the controversial policy to be blocked. The Government’s usual working majority is 167.
The division list has shown Labour MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, Jon Trickett, supported the Conservation motion while no vote was recorded for 53 Labour MPs, although this does not automatically equate to an abstention for each MP as they may have received permission to miss a vote.
For example, some may not record a vote because they were unable to attend due to other commitments.
A further five independent MPs, who were recently suspended from the Labour Party for rebelling against the two-child benefit cap, also backed the Tories – John McDonnell, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne and Zarah Sultana.
The interactive map below shows how your local MP voted for the Conservative motion to keep the universal winter fuel allowance.
Ministers insist that the measure is necessary in order to fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances which they say was left behind by their Tory predecessors.
But some backbenchers had said they feel unable to back the cut, which will see millions of pensioners lose the £200 payment and only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits continue to receive help with their energy bills this winter.
Mr Trickett, who served in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, said he feared the measure would cause more pensioners to fall into poverty during the winter and “could not in good conscience make my constituents poorer”.
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “This winter will be extremely difficult for my constituents of all ages.
“After years of obscene profiteering by energy companies, they are hiking bills once again.
“I fear that removing the payment from pensioners will mean that many more will fall into poverty this winter.
“We know that the consequences of pensioner poverty are devastating. It can even be a matter of life and death.
“I have worked behind the scenes to try and change the Government’s position, but to no avail.
“Our country is richer than it’s ever been, but the wealth is not shared fairly.
“In my view the Government should be looking to raise revenues from the wealthiest in society, not working class pensioners.”
He added: “I will sleep well tonight knowing that I voted to defend my constituents.”
