Thousands of Darlington pensioners are set to lose out on hundreds of pounds a year if the winter fuel payment is restricted.

Last year in Darlington 20,771 people received the winter fuel payment and now 18,164 of them are set to lose it. 

Under the proposed new rules, the winter fuel payments will only be made to people receiving less than £218.15 per week (or £332.95 for couples) through pensions and other benefits.

MPs will be voting on this change today (September 10) in the House of Commons.

More than 500,000 people have signed an Age UK petition to save the winter fuel payment.

This comes at the same time as the Energy Price Cap rising to 10 per cent in October.

Liberal Democrat councillors in Darlington have criticised the Government announcement that will strip millions of pensioners of vital support.

Hilary Allen, Liberal Democrat councillor for North Road, said: "Combined with the energy price cap rising by ten per cent in October, thousands of local pensioners are going to be forced into fuel poverty.

"This is simply an unacceptable course of action for any government to take, putting the greatest burden on those in our society with the least to give - who in many cases have already given so much.

"It is obvious that by setting this threshold so low, the Government will deny winter fuel payments to nearly ten million pensioners."

Peter Gibson, former Conservative MP for Darlington, said: "It is a scandal that we face the prospect of our pensioners being pickpocketed by this socialist government.

"The Chancellor attempts to blame her predecessors for this despite her inflation-busting public pay settlements. It just does not hold water.

"The people of Darlington are going to be in for a bumpy ride."

Matthew Snedker, Green councillor for College Ward, has met with Age UK because he is very "worried" about the impact these restrictions might have.

He said: "It is estimated that in England 4,000 lives will be at risk this winter if Labour withdraws funding from fuel allowances.

"I met with members of Age UK today because I am so worried about the old people in Darlington who will be put at risk.

"I join with Age UK and other charities in calling on the Government to pause their means-testing decision until it can be properly considered as part of the Spending Review next Spring.

"As things stand we are hurtling towards a situation in which up to two million pensioners will lose their winter fuel payment imminently when they simply cannot afford it."

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Jonathan Dulston, Conservative councillor for Eastbourne, urged Lola McEvoy to vote against the proposal.

He said: "Tomorrow’s vote on the removal of the winter fuel payments will be Lola’s first real test as Darlington’s new member of parliament.

"I would strongly urge her to vote against the Labour government's proposal and support the almost 18,000 residents in receipt of this allowance, some of which are the most vulnerable in our community and will be left in a desperate situation this winter."

We have contacted Lola McEvoy for comment.