Hampshire County Council councillors have spoken against the government’s decision to restrict the winter fuel payment, saying it is a “disingenuous” attempt to “raid” pensioners to fund “whatever else” the Labour Party wants to do.

A motion was submitted at the Hampshire County Council full meeting against Chancellor Rachel Reeves's plan to restrict winter fuel payment to only those pensioners in receipt of pension credit.

As a result, figures show that 10 million pensioners across the country are set to miss out on the payment this year.

Department of Work and Pensions suggests 266,845 people in Hampshire will no longer receive the payment.

Cllr Stephen Parker called this a “disingenuous” attempt to raid pensioners to fund other Labour government measures.

He added: “What we’re left with is what appears to be a vindictive attack on pensioners who, by virtue of the wisdom of age, do not vote for labour.”

Also against the measure, Cllr Jan Warwick said the removal of the winter fuel payment was a “rushed announcement” among several “very bizarre” announcements that were pushed through without appropriate scrutiny.

Cllr Juliet Henderson said there is an ageing population in Hampshire, most of them “wartime children” who learnt how to do “without” and now feel they should do without once again.

She said: “My concern is there will be many pensions in Hampshire that they feel they should do without. You need time to prepare for any sizable change in life, don’t you? And they’ve been given no time whatsoever.”

Cllr Zoe Huggins said the government’s short notice about the proposal has already caused a lot of stress and heartache and will create “hard decisions” for pensioners who will have to choose between fuel and food.

Cllr Mel Kendal said it would have been more “logical” for the government to remove the winter fuel allowance from high-rate taxpayers but leave it in place for basic-rate taxpayers.

In support of government plans, Cllr Kim Taylor said the payment should support people who need help with their heating in the winter, but it is instead received by many who do not need that help.

Cllr Taylor said: “It is very difficult to imagine that people like Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart or even Stanley Johnson will be lying awake worrying what to do without their winter fuel allowance.

“That public money is sometimes given to those who do not need it when a lack of public funds means that we ourselves [HCC] are considering withdrawing support from our homeless is quite frankly grotesque.

At the council chamber, 33 councillors from the 66 present at the meeting declared that they are, or were once, in receipt of the winter fuel allowance.

The motion was carried, and the county council will develop a campaign to warn those eligible for Pension Credit to claim their entitlement and, therefore, access to the winter fuel support.

The council will also write to the  Chancellor of the Exchequer urging a review of the decision to mean-test the winter fuel payment.