Calls for MP to resign role over fuel payment vote

An MP has faced calls to resign as chair of a local charity for older people after she backed the government's plans to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.

Labour's Liz Twist, Blaydon and Consett, who is chair of the board of trustees at Age UK Gateshead, voted with her party to restrict the payment to the poorest pensioners.

A number of constituents have emailed the charity calling for her removal, with one telling the BBC she felt it was "hypocritical" she stayed, as she represents "one of the poorest parts of country".

Twist said she would work with the charity to ensure "every pensioner is in receipt of their full entitlement". The charity said it was "advocating against the government's decision".

One resident, who did not want to be named, told the BBC: "I feel the government has set the threshold just right so that it excludes millions who fall slightly over the criteria meaning they are still in fuel poverty and will need to decide between heating and eating.

"Given she [Twist] is a North East MP, representing one of the poorest parts of the country, I feel it’s very hypocritical for her to hold this position and it's disappointing that she did not vote against the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment."

Both Age UK Gateshead and Twist's office said rumours she had resigned from the charity role were untrue.

• How MPs voted on winter fuel payment

Twist, who as Sir Keir Starmer's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) acts as the prime minister's "eyes and ears" among backbench MPs, said the values and aims of Age UK Gateshead remained close to her heart.

"As a government, it is crucial to ensure that we can fix the foundations of our economy and deliver on the promise of change," she said.

A spokesperson for the Age UK Gateshead said its trustees maintain "the highest standards of impartiality in their work".

"Age UK Gateshead is fully aligned with the older people we support in advocating against the government's decision to means test Winter Fuel Payments," they said.

It added it was working alongside the national arm of the charity to highlight "the huge impact" the decision "is likely to have on older people".

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