North Devon’s MP has said the Government should backdate the Winter Fuel Payment for local pensioners who lost out last winter.

Under Government plans announced yesterday (Monday, June 9), all pensioners earning £35,000 a year or less will now have their Winter Fuel Payments reinstated this winter. Those who are now eligible but lost out last winter won’t be reimbursed.

Local MP Ian Roome says the Government should backdate the support for local pensioners who were ‘stripped’ of the payment last winter and are now entitled to support this time.

He said ‘it is the least pensioners deserve’, claiming countless people were forced to choose between heating and eating after ‘the Government’s disastrous decision’.

Mr Roome said: “I am glad the Government has finally listened to the Liberal Democrats and other tireless campaigners in realising what a disastrous policy this was.

“My postbag was full of stories from people here in North Devon who were struggling to make ends meet after this support was stripped away.

“If the Government has truly ‘listened’ they should be backdating these payments to all those who lost support last winter but will receive it this time around.

“It is the least pensioners deserve after what they had to suffer through this winter. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will be pushing the Government every step of the way in Parliament, to force their hand and get these payments backdated.”