David Chadwick has today voted against the Labour Government’s planned cut to the winter fuel allowance - but the cut is set to go ahead after the opposition motion was defeated.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe said he has been “inundated” with local people getting in touch since the plans were announced.

But today, following a heated Commons debate, MPs voted to remove the winter fuel allowance from most pensioners.

A Conservative motion to strike down the move was defeated by 348 votes to 228.

The winter fuel payment is an annual tax-free sum - worth between £200 or £300.

“The Liberal Democrats voted against the Labour Government’s cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners,” said Mr Chadwick.

“We cannot stand by and allow millions of pensioners to endure another winter in a cost of living crisis.

“Since these plans have been announced I have been inundated with local people expressing their disappointment at this decision so I’ll be standing up for them in parliament.

“While we understand the dire state the Conservatives left the public finances in, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.” 

A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats shows that three in four pensioners expect to be affected by the cut.

More than half (55 per cent) of UK pensioners polled said they would likely be heating their homes less this winter, while 4 in 10 will look to cut back on other “essentials”. 1 in 5 (19 per cent) pensioners are planning to eat less this winter due to the cut. 

Locally, the analysis shows an estimated 21,193 pensioners in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe are at risk of losing the £300 payment and which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months.

In Powys as a whole, the figure is 31,148 while in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, it is estimated to be 45,747 and 27,984 respectively. 

The Lib Dems initially called for a vote by tabling a motion and will now take the opportunity to oppose the government.