The government’s plan to axe universal winter fuel payments will have “disastrous consequences” in Somerset, Liberal Democrat politicians across the county have warned. 

Winter fuel payments of up to £300 had been due to be paid to all pensioners again this winter, but the new Labour government announced they were cutting the payments for the vast majority of pensioners after claiming to have found a £22 billion black hole left in the country’s finances by the Conservatives.

Only pensioners who receive pension credit or certain other benefits will still receive the payment — despite energy costs being set to rise.

Liberal Democrat politicians across Somerset have hit out at the move, as their party plans to bring a motion to attempt to block the cut in Parliament. Bath MP Wera Hobhouse called the government’s decision “a huge mistake.” 

She said: “I have already heard from countless pensioners across Bath who are worried sick about losing this vital support and whether they will be able to afford their energy bills as the weather starts to get colder. Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners in Bath just when energy bills are set to rise again is simply wrong.”

She warned that, according to House of Commons figures for 2023, there were 15,000 pensioners in the city who did not receive pension credit and would therefore now lose their winter fuel allowance under the government’s plans unless they received other benefits.  Meanwhile the leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, has warned that the cut would hit more than 30,000 pensioners in that district.

He said: “These decisions will have disastrous consequences for some of our most vulnerable residents and will put extra strain on our under-pressure care and health services. Whilst we all understand the financial mess left behind by the Conservatives, Labour do need to think again about this.”

Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke warned the cut would hit rural Somerset “harder” and put a “disproportionate burden” on its public services. She said: “It is well known that Somerset has a much older population than the national average, with a quarter of us now older than 65. This is compounded by the fact that rural areas like Glastonbury and Somerton rely on off-grid gas supplies to heat our homes and our houses tend to be less energy-efficient.”

The 72 Liberal Democrat MPs in Parliament have backed a motion — known as a prayer — which is set to be tabled once Parliament returns next week to block the government’s changes and keep the current system of winter fuel payments. With a large Labour majority, the motion is unlikely to pass unless there is a major Labour rebellion.

Under the government’s plan, you will still be eligible for a winter fuel payment — except under certain circumstances — if you were born before 23 September 1958 and receive one of the following benefits: pension credit, universal credit, income-related employment and support allowance (ESA), income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), and income support