A SOUTH Essex MP has hand delivered a letter and 300 emails from residents demanding an urgent U-turn on proposed cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance.

Mark Francois, Tory MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, personally dropped off the letter and emails to the HM Treasury ahead of the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget next week.

The Labour Government’s cut to the the Winter Fuel Allowance limits the payment to only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

Mr Francois is arguing that any savings from a reduced Winter Fuel Allowance would likely be offset by increased Pension Credit payment costs, labelling the proposal a “false economy.”

He said: “Even if there were grounds to restrict eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance, capping it at the Pension Credit level of approximately £13,000 per year is far too low.

“This risks excluding up to ten million pensioners from this essential benefit, while train drivers have been awarded a substantial pay increase.”

The letter from Mr Francois was delivered alongside copies of all 300 emails he received from residents on Thursday.

He added: “This is a deliberate political decision taken by the Chancellor – to award significant pay rises to already well-paid train drivers, whilst leaving some of the most vulnerable in my constituency and across the country without this crucial lifeline as winter approaches - so I urge the Chancellor to reverse this decision.”

Following the announcement by the Government, local authorities across the country have put additional schemes in place in a bid to support pensioners throughout the winter.

However, fears remain that it will not be enough to support those most in need.

The letter, written directly to Ms Reeves, said: “As you will see from the 300 or so enclosed emails, some of my constituents really do rely on this money, especially to help tie them over through the winter months, in an era of much higher domestic fuel bills.

“In response, many of them have now begun to apply for Pension Credit, mainly to try and maintain their eligibility for Winter Fuel Allowance. This involves them having to fill in a complex form, with hundreds of questions, just to qualify for what they were already entitled to in the first place.”