Cumbrian MPs have been voting in Parliament on the Labour proposal to cut Winter Fuel Payments.

The Conservative move to block the proposal was defeated by 120 votes, 348 to 228, with one Labour MP voting in support of Conservative motion and 52 MPs recording no vote.

This will cut the number receiving the payment from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.

The Cumbria’s Labour MPs voted with the government, defeating the Conservatives motion while Westmorland and Lonsdale’s Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron voted with the Conservatives.

Tim Farron released a statement on his website after the vote saying: “There are many people who aren’t eligible for pension credit but for who the Winter Fuel Allowance has been a lifeline.

“Be in no doubt, there will many pensioners forced to choose between eating and heating this winter as a result of this move.

“I was proud to vote against these appalling plans and will keep fighting to stop them in any way that I can.”

In a second vote on the Winter Fuel Payment Tom Farron did not register a vote.

How the Cumbrian MPs voted

• Markus Campbell-Savours (Penrith and Solway) – Voted No
• Josh MacAlister (Whitehaven and Workington) – Voted No
• Julie Minns (Carlisle) – Voted No
• Michelle Scrogham (Barrow and Furness) – Voted No
• Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) – Voted Yes

The outcome of the vote means that Chancellor Rachel Reeves plan to remove the Winter Fuel Payment will go ahead and potentially save the country £1.5 billion each year.

The payment was for all pensioners to help with the cost of heating during the colder winter months but will now only go to those over the pension age and receiving Pension Credit.

There are also a number of benefits that receive the payment – income support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, universal credit.