Over 50 Labour MPs avoid vote on winter fuel payment cut

More than 50 Labour MPs did not back the cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners, including two MPs from Scotland.

An attempt by the Conservatives to stop the cut was defeated by 348 votes to 228.

No vote was recorded for 53 Labour MPs, though only one, John Trickett, voted against the government.

A Labour source told Holyrood’s sister website Politics Home that only a dozen of the abstentions had not been authorised. They stressed that MPs often abstain due to "legitimate" reasons like medical appointments, travel and pairing with the opposition.

The SNP has said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has “failed another key test” as the majority of his MPs did back the government’s position. Only Euan Stainbank, MP for Falkirk, and Kenneth Stevenson, MP for Airdrie and Shotts, did not vote.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the plans before summer, blaming the move on the need to fill a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances left by the Conservatives. Only those on pension credit will now receive the payment.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “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 £100m 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.”

The Scottish Government announced last month that it too would move to means-testing the benefit. It said it was unable to fund a universal payment to all pensioners without the Barnett consequentials flowing from the UK Government.

Meanwhile five of the seven MPs who lost the Labour whip for voting the scrap the two-child benefit cap also voted against the government. That will likely delay them getting the whip restored.

But there had been suggestions the rebellion could be bigger, particularly given an early day motion on the topic had garnered significant support from Labour backbenchers.

Reeves defended her decision at a meeting with the Parliamentary Labour Party last night and warned there were “more difficult decisions to come” as she prepares to deliver the autumn statement at the end of October.

Age UK has warned that means-testing the pay will “make millions of poor pensioners poorer still”.

Chairty director Caroline Abrahams added: “We are baffled as to why some ministers are asserting that this is the right thing to do. We and many others are certain that it is not, and that's why we will continue to stand with the pensioners who can't afford to lose their payment and campaign for them to be given more government support. 

"Meanwhile, winter is coming and we fear it will be a deeply challenging one for millions of older people who have previously relied on their Winter Fuel Payment to help pay their energy bills and who have no obvious alternative source of funds on which to draw.”

The Scottish Conservatives have said this vote will “go down in history as the day Labour shamefully betrayed Britain’s pensioners”.

Equalities spokesperson Miles Briggs said: “It’s humiliating for Anas Sarwar that Scottish Labour MPs have ignored the representations he apparently made to Keir Starmer, and voted for a cut that could see elderly people shiver to death this winter.

“The Labour Government have chosen to cut this vital benefit from millions of pensioners at the same time as handing double-digit pay rises to public sector workers – and they will rightly held to account for their choice.”

Scottish Lib Dem deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain, who voted against the cut, said: “The damage left by the Conservatives to our economy is unforgivable but cutting payments to vulnerable pensioners is no way to bring about the change the country deserves. Liberal Democrat MPs proudly opposed the government today and stood up for the many pensioners across the country who are now at risk of an even bigger winter cost of living crisis.”