The Isle of Wight’s two MPs have voted differently in a motion to annul the government’s cuts to winter fuel payments.

A Conservative motion to annul the plan was defeated by 348 votes to 228 in the House of Commons today (Tuesday, September 10).

Shouts of "shame" were heard in the Commons chamber as the result was announced, which will mean the number of fuel payments will fall from 11.4 million to 1.5 million this winter.

If you were born before September 23, 1958, you could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025.

This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’, usually paid in November and December.

Under the new plan, the payments will only be made to pensioners claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

The government insisted the changes are necessary in order to fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances, which they say was left behind by their Tory predecessors.

How did our Isle of Wight MPs vote in the Winter Fuel Payment debate?

Labour MP for IW West, Richard Quigley, voted against the annulment – in support of the Winter Fuel Payment change.

See Mr Quigley's response to the vote

Conservative MP for IW East, Joe Robertson, voted in favour of the annulment.

IW East MP Joe Robertson speaking in the House of Commons during the Winter Fuel Payments debateIW East MP Joe Robertson speaking in the House of Commons during the Winter Fuel Payments debate (Image: Contributed)

Mr Robertson said: “I voted to annul the government's decision to remove the Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners because it is a rushed, badly thought out and cruel act against some of the most vulnerable in society.

“18,000 pensioners in the East Wight will have their Winter Fuel Payment removed and, some on an income as low as £13,000 who are also facing a rise in the cap on energy prices.

“I spoke in the House of Commons during the debate to remind the Government that some of our pensioners will be living with dementia or long-term frailty and will spend more time in their home during the winter than working-age people, but no provision has been made for them."