How did Norfolk MPs vote over winter fuel payment cut?

MPs voted 348 to 228 against a Conservative motion for the government's controversial policy to be blocked, with no vote recorded for 53 Labour MPs.

The motion to block Labour's winter fuel allowance cuts was lost (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Norwich South Labour MP Clive Lewis was among those for whom no vote was recorded.

However, no vote being recorded does not automatically equate to an abstention, as they may have received permission to miss a vote.

Clive Lewis, Norwich South MP (Image: UK Parliament)

Mr Lewis said he had been 'paired', referring to an arrangement between two MPs of opposing parties to not vote in a particular division.

It enables an MP to be absent without affecting the result of the vote, as they effectively cancel each other out.

Mr Lewis said: "I was paired, but my signing of the early day motion tells my constituents everything about my position on this matter."

That Labour early day motion called for the changes to be postponed and expressed concern they were being made without consultation or an impact assessment.

Mr Lewis later posted a statement on his website, in which he said personal reasons meant he had not been present for the vote.

But he said: “Throughout my decade in Parliament, I have advocated for universal basic services and benefits to be expanded, not contracted, as we enter into the 21st century, with all the challenges that lie ahead of us.
 

”Universalism is the way forwards, means testing is a backwards looking approach.

“At the general election, I committed to prioritising tackling deprivation.

”My views on the government’s decision about the winter fuel payment were always very clear.

”I co-sponsored Early Day Motion 115, calling on the government to postpone this decision and introduce ‘a comprehensive strategy to tackle fuel poverty, health inequality and low incomes among older people’.

”There are better way to raise money and create economic stability than undermining a universal benefit like the winter fuel payment.”

Norfolk and Waveney's other Labour MPs - Alice Macdonald (Norwich North), Terry Jermy (South West Norfolk), Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk) and Jess Asato (Lowestoft) - all voted against the Tory motion.

In a statement to constituents, Ms Asato said the government had to make the "tough decision" because of the £22bn overspend her party had inherited from the Conservatives.

Lowestoft MP Jess Asato (Image: Mick Howes)

Under the government changes, the winter fuel allowance payment of up to £300 for pensioners will be limited to only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

It is estimated that 225,000 pensioners in Norfolk and Waveney will be among 10 million who lose the allowance, saving £1.4bn this year.

The three Conservatives who retained their seats in May's general election - George Freeman (Mid Norfolk), James Wild (North West Norfolk) and Jerome Mayhew (Broadland and Fakenham) - voted for their party's blocking motion.

Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe (Reform UK), North Norfolk MP Steffan Aquarone (Liberal Democrat) and Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsay (Green) all voted for the Conservative motion.

North Norfolk MP Steffan Aquarone (Image: Alex Broadway)

Mr Aquarone said: "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."