Following the decision yesterday, that saw the government cut the Winter Fuel Payments, it means millions will lose access to funds for the winter months.
The decision will see only those who claim pension credit or means-tested benefits will receive help with their fuel bills.
With the previous allowance being accessible to anyone over the age of sixty-six, it will see millions of pensioners across the country suffering over the winter months.
The vote went the way of the government winning by 348 votes to 228, with a majority of 120.
It is known that fifty-two Labour MPs did not take part in the vote, which will see millions miss out on the up to £300-a-year payment support.
With the loss of funds across the country, it is expected that it will save the exchequer around £1.4 billion this year.
However, with the loss of funds, four MPs cover the entire city of Salford, whether in the Salford constituencies or the neighbouring Bolton South and Bury South.
Bolton South contains areas such as Little Hulton, and Walkden North, whilst the Walkden South and Bury South constituency contain Kersal and Broughton Park wards.
However, with the decision set to affect millions across the country it is interesting to see how the city of Salford has been represented.
Rebecca Long-Bailey was one of the fifty-two Labour MPs who did not take part in the vote, with the Salford MP stating on”X” (Twitter) her reasoning behind the decision.
As she said: “I am gravely concerned about introducing means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment so quickly, at a time when energy bills are due to increase significantly.
“And with no mitigations to support the most vulnerable pensioners.”
The Salford MP went on to add: “I could not in all conscience vote to support the proposals to means test Winter Fuel Payments as they stand and so did not vote in favour of them.”
Christain Wakefield, MP for Bury South, which is home to Kersal and Broughton Park wards vote was also not counted in the total.
The reasoning for this was that he was a teller, someone who counted the votes.
Whilst Michael Wheeler MP for Worsley & Eccles voted with the government’s decision as he shared in his statement: “Today I voted with the Labour Government for the changes.”
The local MP shared his decision, stating that he was elected on the “pledge to secure economic stability” in the hope of delivering the party’s ambitious plans.
He went on to justify his decision by saying: “I came into politics to help people in my community. This inevitably involves difficult decisions.”
He continued to mention that this decision was “necessary.”
In addition to this Yasmin Qureshi MP for the Bolton South and Walkden Parliamentary Constituency, also voted in favour of the government cuts to the Winter Fuel Payments as she released a statement on her website.
She said: “I didn’t go into politics to make life harder for anyone, nor did any of my Labour colleagues.”
However, she went on to add in her statement: “We have had to come to terms with the reality of the public finances, and how reckless the last government was with the public purse.
“Labour is committed to the triple lock on pensions, which should see the state pension rise by £460 from April,” she continued: “The Tories left us an inheritance that meant we needed to make immediate tough decisions.”
With the decision set to have an impact on millions across the country, it will be an even tougher winter for many this winter.
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