Kevin Hollinrake MP has said he is going to vote against Labour’s plan to cut winter fuel payments for 24,202 pensioners in Thirsk and Malton.

The future of winter fuel payments for pensioners in will be decided by a vote in Parliament after the Conservatives forced the Government into a U-turn.

Under Labour's original plan to axe the payments for more than 10 million older people across the country, MPs would not be able to debate the proposal in Parliament.

But now, following strong pressure from Conservative MPs, including Mr Hollinrake and an outcry from people across the country, the decision to end the payments will be discussed and voted on by every MP in the country.

The Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves has decided to end the universal winter fuel allowance, currently £200 for pensioners under 80 and £300 for those over, in a bid to save £1.5 billion. Now, solely retirees on pension credit and certain other benefits will qualify. This translates to a dramatic decrease from the current 11.4 million recipients to merely 1.5 million.

Mr Hollinrake said: “The Labour Government is wrong to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners

“Now we have forced Labour into a vote, I will be standing up for pensioners here and support the Conservative motion against the cruel cuts.

“While Labour is giving their union paymasters a payrise, yet feel happy to cut vital payments to pensioners, it tells you all you need to know about the Government's priorities as we head towards Autumn and Winter.

“Rachel Reeves must reverse this decision so that those who worked hard and saved all of their life, live with dignity and security in retirement.”

A vote will take place on Tuesday 10 September.