UK parliament votes in favour of fuel benefit cut

Millions of pensioners are set to lose winter fuel payments this year after an attempt to block the cuts failed in Parliament. The government won a vote on the plan to restrict the payments to all but the poorest pensioners by 348 votes to 228 a majority of 120.

Fifty-two Labour MPs did not take part in the vote, including seven ministers, but it is not clear how many deliberately abstained or were absent from Parliament for another reason. Only one Labour MP, Jon Trickett voted against the government.