Dozens Of Labour MPs Abstain On Winter Fuel Cut Vote

Dozens of Labour MPs failed to vote with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a House of Commons vote on the Government decision to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners.

In a House of Commons vote on Tuesday afternoon, the Government won by 348 to 228.

Just one, John Trickett, voted against the Government. He faces potentially losing the Labour whip as a result. Fifty three Labour MPs abstained. 

Eight ministers were also among those that abstained on the vote that would have been expected to vote with the government.

A Labour source added that only a dozen of the abstentions had not been authorised. They stressed stress that MPs often abstain due to "legitimate" reasons like medical appointments, travel and pairing with the opposition.

Elsewhere, five of the seven MPs who lost the Labour whip in July voted against Government again, casting doubt over whether the whip will be restored. 

Speaking ahead of the vote, shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said the decision was "absurd" and urged Labour MPs who are concerned about the consequences for elderly people to "look to your conscience".

There had been suggestions in the days leading up to the vote that dozens of Labour MPs who are uneasy about the decision to cut the support for pensioners would defy Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves by voting against the measure, leading to a big rebellion.

Prominent left-wing Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis signed an early day motion opposing the decision. It was also signed by MPs like John McDonnell and Zarah Sultana, who lost the Labour whip in July after defying the Government in a vote on scrapping the two-child cap.

Speaking to PoliticsHome on Monday, a Labour MP who planned to vote with the Government said the idea of