14,000 Windsor residents are set to lose out on financial support from the government after a vote to scrap winter fuel payments was passed in Parliament yesterday (September 10).

The controversial decision from the Labour government, taken to address the £22 million ‘black hole’ in its finances, went to vote after a motion was taken to the House of Commons.

From October, elderly people across England and Wales will no longer receive an annual payment of up to £300 to help with their fuel bills.

A total of 347 Labour MPs voted for the cut, while 228 MPs including Conservative, Liberal Democrat, DUP and SNP representatives opposed the plans.

A dozen Labour MPs abstained, while only one voted against the measures.

Windsor MP Jack Rankin voted against the cuts, which he remarked were ‘punishing’ pensioners and a ‘political choice’. He criticised the chancellor Rachel Reeves, saying: “Labour had access to an open book of the country’s finances during the election campaign, so this is quite simply a political choice.

“The chancellor cannot keep hiding behind her misleading ‘black hole’ fallacy and ignoring pensioners who will struggle to heat their homes in the coming winter months.”

The Labour government have assured that despite cuts, more support for pensioners is on the way.

State pensions will be increased by £900 per year and the government has extended the household support fund available for councils.

It comes as the energy price cap is set to increase by 10 per cent per year in the next month, which Mr Rankin argued would be ‘devastating’ for pensioners.