Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, has slammed the cuts to the winter fuel payment benefit as a “callous decision”.

The damning quote comes after the MP, who was elected in July 2024, spoke to The Hunts Post about his concerns for pensioners in his constituency this winter.

In figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions, it reveals that the number of Huntingdon residents who received the winter fuel payment during the winter of 2023/24 was 21,060.

In Cambridgeshire, the number of individuals who received the winter fuel payment in 2023/24 was 150,838.

Mr Obese-Jecty said he is “hugely worried” about the impact that the decision might have on the older population, saying that it “will likely have a terrible impact upon some of our poorest pensioners”.

Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, has said he is hugely worried for pensioners in his constituency.Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, has said he is hugely worried for pensioners in his constituency. (Image: Roger Harris)

On September 10 in the House of Commons, MPs voted on a Conservative Party motion to block the plans to cut winter fuel payments.

Ben Obese-Jecty voted in favour of blocking the cuts, along with fellow Conservative MP, Steve Barclay, who represents North East Cambridgeshire.

Charlotte Cane (Lib Dem MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire), Pippa Heylings (Lib Dem MP for South Cambridgeshire) and Ian Sollom (Lib Dem MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire) also voted in favour of blocking the cuts.

Sam Carling and Andrew Pakes, both Labour MPs for North West Cambridgeshire and Peterborough respectively, voted against blocking the cuts.

Daniel Zeichner, the Labour MP for Cambridge, did not vote in the motion.

Fears are growing amongst helpline organisations, including the Citizens Advice Rural Cambridgeshire branch, who expect to be in high demand this upcoming winter.

A spokesperson for the group said: “We anticipate that the Winter Fuel Payment cuts will create a spike in debt, increase food bank use and put added pressure on organisations such as Citizens Advice Rural Cambridgeshire and local NHS services.”

Since the plan to cut the benefit was announced in July by the newly-elected Labour government, the number of Pension Credit claims has nearly doubled in number.

Ben Obese-Jecty MP is also urging his constituents to apply for pension credit. He said: “I would urge anybody who qualifies for pension credit but isn’t currently in receipt to apply as soon as possible in order to ease the pressure upon them this winter.”

Similarly, the Citizens Advice Rural Cambridgeshire branch is urging people to "reach out for help and not to suffer in silence".

Nationally, four in every five pensioners are set to lose their winter fuel payment.

Further research by Age UK has found that in the East of England, 85 per cent of pensioners living in poverty or just above the poverty line will no longer receive Winter Fuel Payments.

Pensioners have since spoken out about the impact that losing their payment would have on them.

86-year-old John said: “We will not be able to cope. 

“My wife is disabled and has a severe vascular problem which causes her to feel the cold terribly. 

“Even with the Winter Fuel Payment last year we struggled to meet the gas and electricity monthly bill, so we will not be able to cope now.”

Diana, a 73-year-old, added: "I live with my 98-year-old mother with dementia who is house bound.

"Our heating bills will make little money left over for the limited social care that I need to support me."

More than half a million people have signed an Age UK petition titled, "Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners". 

The charity is also encouraging people to use its Benefits Calculator ahead of the winter months. 

The calculator is free and anonymous, and it provides an estimate of the benefits that people are entitled to.

Are you worried about the impact of losing your winter fuel payment this year? Share your thoughts at: francesca.herring@newsquest.co.uk