THE MP for Droitwich and Evesham has promised to "fight against" Labour's plans to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for the vast majority of pensioners. 

Nigel Huddleston has reacted to plans announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to axe winter fuel payments for pensioners not on pension credit or other benefits. 

The controversial plans are predicted to affect over 10 million pensioners in England and Wales but Mr Huddleston has promised to fight the decision.

Data analysed by the Evesham Journal shows that 31,406 pensioners received a Winter Fuel Payment in 2022 while 2,326 received pension credit meaning the plans would see over 90 per cent of Wychavon's pensioners worse off.

Mr Huddleston said: “Government is about making difficult choices, but I fundamentally disagree with some of the choices Labour have made since coming to power and top amongst these is their decision to remove Winter Fuel payments from millions of pensions - including thousands of my constituents.

"I don't recall them mentioning this option during the election campaign.

"Labour have prioritised giving inflation busting pay increases to their union paymasters overlooking after pensioners - most of whom are on fixed incomes. 

"I will continue to fight this decision."

The plans were announced in July by the current chancellor and will come into effect from the autumn leaving many pensioners between £100 and £300 worse off.

Mr Huddleston continued: "The harsh reality is that Labour lied to the public during the election campaign: promising to splash the cash while not cutting welfare or increasing taxes.

"This was always a transparently unrealistic position.

"Now Labour is faced with difficult choices in order to fulfil their unfunded spending commitments and we will all end up paying for it.

"Wait for tax increases in the Budget."

Worcester's Labour MP Tom Collins described the plan as "tough but necessary" after the government was left with a £22 billion gap in public finances.

Mr Collins also said that the figures didn't tell the whole story as a number of pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit currently do not claim it and encouraged them to do so.