Labour MPs have explained why they controversially voted to cut the winter fuel allowance which will result in many pensioners losing their heating bills support as charities and opposition parties sound the alarm bell.
Sir Keir Starmer saw off a backbench rebellion over the plans last week.
MPs voted 348 to 228 to axe the payment for all but the country’s poorest pensioners, rejecting a Tory bid for the controversial policy to be blocked.
Ministers insist the measure is necessary in order to fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances which they say was left behind by their Tory predecessors.
But some backbenchers had said they feel unable to back the cut, which will see millions of pensioners lose the payment and only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits continue to receive help with their energy bills this winter.
In Oxfordshire, the two Labour MPs voted for the cut and the five Liberal Democrats against it.
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A total of 125,194 received the winter fuel payment last winter.
The breakdown per constituency is as follows: Henley and Thame - 21,500, Banbury - 19,078, Witney - 18,569, Didcot and Wantage - 18,160, Bicester and Woodstock (Lib Dems) - 18,125, Oxford West and Abingdon - 17,089 and Oxford East - 12,673.
Labour's Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds voted against the motion to reject the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations that was tabled by the Conservatives.
Explaining her decision to back the cuts, Ms Dodds said: "The last government left a £22billon black hole in the public finances- then ran away.
"The changes Rachel Reeves announced, including to the Winter Fuel Allowance, were not changes she or the government wanted to make.
"But failing to act would have damaged financial stability, and it was pensioners and others on fixed incomes who were especially badly hit by Liz Truss’s inability to deliver financial stability."
The MP has urged anyone concerned about their situation to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit.
She added: "We are boosting the Household Support Grant and maintaining the Triple Lock- which means that by the start of the next parliament, the Full New State Pension will be worth about £1,700 more.”
But critics from other parties believe the decision will exacerbate the cost of living crisis for many pensioners in the county with Sharon Graham, the general secretary of the Unite trade union, calling for the government's policy to be reversed.
She said: “Targeting everyday people without much money is not a tough choice – it is a mistake. There is no reason why we have to choose between paying workers and keeping pensioners warm.”
Age UK Oxfordshire, an independent charity working to support older people across the county, has raised concerns over the move.
Paul Ringer, chief executive of Age UK Oxfordshire said: “We are concerned that the changes to the way the Winter Fuel Payment is awarded from this year will mean that many people relying on the additional income to keep their home warm will not receive it.
"Recent data shows that thousands of older people in Oxfordshire are eligible for, but not claiming, Pension Credit.
“We know that pensioners tend to do everything possible to avoid going into debt, so if they are worried about their future energy bills, some ration their fuel use and economise by reducing their spending on other essentials.
"This proposed policy change is therefore certain to result in more older people experiencing a horrible 'eating or heating' dilemma."
Banbury MP Sean Woodcock, who backed the cuts, has met with the charity.
Explaining his decision, Mr Woodcock said: “I decided to support the government in the vote last week opposing the motion from the Conservative opposition and supported by other opposition parties.
"Pensioners will be better off by at least £1,700 a year by the end of this parliament.
"Fuel bills are also on average £115 cheaper than they were this time last year despite the raising of the energy price cap.”
He added: “During the election campaign we campaigned on a clear platform of delivering economic stability and fixing Britain. It was step one of our manifesto.
"And it remains my view that we cannot fix the NHS, repair our vital infrastructure and eradicate poverty without first stabilising our economy.
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“After the election we discovered the financial mess left by the Tories was far worse than expected, so tough and occasionally unpopular decisions need to be made.
“Eradicating poverty is in the DNA of any Labour government and that remains the case today. As the Chancellor works to fix the finances changes have to be made.
"I could not support the continuation of a system where pensioners who are not in need received an annual contribution to their heating costs of between £100 to £300. Any such payments should and must be better targeted.
"Under the last government, two thirds of those eligible for Pension Credit were not receiving it. This must change and my priority is now helping local charities, councils and other organisations to increase the rate of Pension Credit take up locally."
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In a joint statement issued, Layla Moran, who represents Oxford West and Abingdon, Olly Glover, of Didcot and Wantage, Freddie van Mierlo, of Henley and Thame, Charlie Maynard of Witney and Calum Miller of Bicester and Woodstock, said: “Thousands of pensioners across our communities will be left deeply worried about how they will get by this winter with this cut to the Winter Fuel Payment.
“So many pensioners are already facing another winter of a cost of living crisis and this will make things worse.
“The damage left by the Conservatives to our economy is unforgivable but cutting payments to vulnerable pensioners across Oxfordshire is no way to bring about the change the country deserves.
“We proudly opposed the Government and stood up for the many pensioners in the constituency who are now at risk of an even bigger winter cost of living crisis.
“Liberal Democrats will keep fighting this cut tooth and nail, we’re fighting for the real change people want to see.”
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