Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson is urging everyone to sign a petition urging the Government to u-turn on its decision to end winter fuel payments for nearly 10 million pensioners.
The new Government has announced an end to universal Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners, with only those in receipt of pension credit or means tested benefits eligible going forward.
This means 46,862 pensioners in Central Bedfordshire and 27,357 pensioners in Bedford could lose their winter fuel allowance, so Age UK has set up a petition against the changes which has seen more than 450,000 people sign so far.
Blake Stephenson MP is one of those to sign the petition and is hoping to see more people sign the petition to put pressure on the Government to reverse the decision.
He said: “I have been clear from the start that I am opposed to the Labour Government's decision to remove Winter Fuel Payments from vulnerable pensioners here in Mid Bedfordshire. They should reverse the decision now and restore the winter fuel allowance to all pensioners.
"Last year the Conservative Government provided a Cost Of Living energy payment to pensioners of £300 to help over winter meaning some pensioners could be losing as much as £600 this year under the new Government with just a few months notice.
“Pensioners shouldn't have to worry about whether they will be able to afford to heat their homes this winter so I have added my name to the petition and I hope others will too to send a clear message to the new Government that they should do the right thing.
"While we fight for this, I would urge all pensioners to check if they are eligible for certain benefits such as Pension Credit, which would re-open access to a Winter Fuel Allowance."
More than 50 organisations have also written to the Chancellor about this decision. The groups, which make up the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said it will result in pensioners not on means-tested benefits seeing a 15 per cent increase in their energy bills this winter.
To sign the petition visit https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=Website
