The Labour MP for Wycombe says the government's plan to scrap the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners is 'the right choice to protect public finances'.

Emma Reynolds, who is also a work and pensions minister in Keir Starmer's government, has put her full support behind the party leader's stance on reforming the winter fuel payments benefit - reducing the number of pensioners receiving an annual £300 from 11.4 million to 1.5 million. 

Following a vote in the House of Commons this afternoon (September 10), people in England and Wales who are not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will not be eligible for the payment under the changes. 

During a debate in Westminster today, Ms Reynolds said there are "plenty of very wealthy pensioners" who don't need the winter fuel payment, with a means-tested continuation of the state benefit still "protecting the poorest pensioners on the lowest incomes". 

Speaking to the Free Press, she described the plan as "a tough decision" made necessary by "the last government wrecking our economy (and) leaving a £22 billion black hole in the public finances".

Adding: “Keir Starmer has spoken about a decade of national renewal to get our public services back on their feet and in particular to bring down NHS waiting times, because he knows, as the country knows, it will take time to repair the damage left by the Conservatives.

“These are not choices the Chancellor wanted to make or expected to make, but they are the right choices in the circumstances (and) by introducing means-testing, we can make sure the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they need.

“We are absolutely determined to do everything possible to protect the poorest pensioners and to increase the uptake of pension credit which the Tories failed to do for more than a decade.

“We have (also) joined forces with local authorities and charities in a drive to encourage those eligible to apply for pension credit (which) will ensure pensioners continue to receive the winter fuel payment.”

MPs voted 348 to 228 this afternoon to axe the payment for all but the country’s poorest pensioners, rejecting a Tory bid for the controversial policy to be blocked.