Falmouth and Truro MP Jayne Kirkham has defended her decision to vote against a motion in parliament to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners.

On Tuesday, all four Cornwall Labour MPs voted against a motion to annul the Government’s cuts to winter fuel payments. It was defeated by 348 votes to 228.

Both Lib Dem Cornwall MPs Andrew George, St Ives, and Ben Maguire, North Cornwall, voted for the motion.

Mrs Kirkham said she had voted on the Government’s plan to means test the Winter Fuel Allowance.

She said the country’s finances were left in a huge mess by the conservatives leaving a black hole in this year’s budget.

“We have been elected to fix that so we can have a more secure and a better future” she told the Packet.

“I’ve been Labour all my adult life. I believe a Labour government will be the absolute best way to make our society work for everyone and fix the safety net we all need.

“This Government is trying to restore the financial foundations we need to do that. But we have to make sure people are looked after in the short term until we get to the place where we need to and should be.”

Lib Dem MP Andrew George said he was committed to keeping up the pressure on the Government after the failed attempt to block the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners, including thousands in Cornwall.

“Around 10 million pensioners are set to lose the allowance," he said. "While the government must address the public finance deficit left by the previous Conservative government, it should focus on reversing inequality, not extending it.

“If the PM genuinely wishes to ensure ‘those with the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden’, he could do so without hitting millions of struggling pensioners.

“The cut will leave thousands in Cornwall in significant fuel poverty. If the government targeted pensioners in the highest tax band or those living in higher council tax bands, we might have supported them. However, there are many other ways to address this issue without impacting low-income households.”

He said according to Age UK, the government’s plan to cut the payments is likely to affect more than 122,000 pensioners in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including 20,621 in his St Ives constituency.

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Labour says the triple lock means that the state pension went up £900 this year and will go up over £460 next year.

The Government says it has extended the Household Support Fund to Cornwall and is used to directly help people who are struggling as well as those organisations like Community Energy Plus (https://cep.org.uk/) and Citizens Advice Cornwall (https://citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk/) who offer support.

Labour say the Pension Credit is not claimed by 800,000 people who could claim it and it has been aligned with Housing Benefit so that more help is automatically available.

People can check to see if they or their family are eligible by visiting the following link: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line at 0800 99 1234.

And on the Cornwall Council website - www.cornwall.gov.uk/people-and-communities/support-for-residents-struggling-with-the-cost-of-living/