Figures show the number of people who will lose their winter fuel payment in Greater Lincolnshire
More than 200,000 people across Greater Lincolnshire are estimated to face difficulties after the government voted to remove the winter fuel allowance for all but the most financially vulnerable pensioners.
Starting this winter, only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits will receive help with their fuel bills, after a Conservative motion to block the cuts was shot down in Parliament on Tuesday (September 10).
The motion was defeated by 348 votes to 228, with 58 Labour MPs not participating in the vote.
Representatives from across Greater Lincolnshire were divided on party lines, with Labour’s Sir Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe), Hamish Falconer (Lincoln), and Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes) all voting in favour of the cuts.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs Victoria Atkins (Louth & Horncastle), Sir John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings), Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford & North Hykeham), Alicia Kearns (Rutland & Stamford), Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough), and Richard Tice (Boston & Skegness) voted against.
The breakdown: How many people will lose their winter fuel payments
Neil John O’Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, has shared data outlining the number of people per constituency losing winter fuel payments, describing it as "the numbers the government doesn’t want to publish."
Below is the breakdown for all constituencies in Greater Lincolnshire and the number of people expected to lose their winter fuel payments. In total, this amounts to 215,897 people across the county.
Brigg & Immingham - 17,443
Gainsborough - 20,863
Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes - 16,771
Lincoln - 14,327
Louth & Horncastle - 25,238
Scunthorpe - 17,088
Sleaford & North Hykeham - 20,677
South Holland & The Deepings - 22,429
The reaction
Following criticism, Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes, posted a statement on social media defending her decision to vote in favour of the cuts.
She wrote: "Yesterday's vote was a difficult decision for everyone on the Labour benches to take, and I have placed my trust in the Chancellor to fix the foundations of our economy.
"I completely understand and share the depth of feeling on this issue, and I'll continue to explore alternative ways to support pensioners in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes."
Lincoln MP Hamish Falconer faced questions from the BBC on Look North, where he admitted it was a "difficult day" but assured viewers that he had the welfare of residents in mind.
"Nobody in the Labour Party wants to be making these kinds of decisions," he said.
"We of course want to make sure that everybody has a chance to have their energy on in the winter, but we have been left with a £22 billion deficit and we need to take action in year to try and rectify that."
Reposting a thread from Reform UK about how all of its MPs voted against the cuts, Richard Tice, MP for Boston & Skegness, wrote: "It's shameful that Labour voted to impoverish pensioners. Old cold people die early."
Conservative Lincolnshire county councillor Colin Davie, portfolio holder for Economic Development, Environment and Planning, stated that Labour had given pensioners the "V sign" by ending winter fuel payments for 90% of them.
He posted: "Many I represent have only a state pension to live on, living in trailer parks with bottled gas for heating. They spend excessive amounts on energy.
"Attacking vulnerable people is a disgrace."
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