MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick has backed a motion by his party in parliament to block the UK Government’s plans to withdraw winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.

In England and Wales, around 10 million pensioners not receiving benefits are set to lose the payment from mid-September.

Payments are worth between £100 and £300.

But under new plans, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments from this autumn.

An estimated 21,193 pensioners in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe are at risk of losing the payment, which helps with heating bills in the colder winter months.

This is the estimated number of pensioners in the constituency who don't receive pension credit, and so will lose the winter fuel allowance under the government’s plans, unless they receive other benefits. The figures were compiled by the House of Commons Library based on data from the Department of Work and Pensions.

If passed, the Liberal Democrat motion would block the UK Labour Government’s changes and restore the payments. It is set to be tabled as soon as Parliament returns next week and has been backed by all 72 Liberal Democrat MPs.

“I’ve heard from countless pensioners across Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe worried about losing this vital support and how they will afford their energy bills this winter,” said Mr Chadwick.

“Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners just when energy bills are set to rise again is simply wrong. It could force vulnerable elderly people in our community to choose between eating and heating this winter.

“I recognise that the new government faces difficult choices after the appalling economic mess that has been left by the Conservatives. But a rethink is urgently needed so that poorer and vulnerable pensioners in our community continue to get the support they so desperately need.”

The decision to remove payments for 10 million pensioners is projected to save around £1.4 billion in the current financial year.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has attributed this action to a £22 billion "black hole" in the public finances, which she says the government has inherited from the Conservatives.