THE organiser of a Northumberland veterans group has warned former members of the armed forces face having to leave their heating off this winter after the Government scrapped winter fuel payments for some pensioners.

The new Labour Government confirmed that from this autumn, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300. It is estimated that across the country around 10 million pensioners – including 70,000 in Northumberland – will lose their payments.

The move has proved controversial and has been met with significant opposition. Caroline Richardson is the wife and daughter of veterans, and organises the Prudhoe Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club.

She said: “Those that literally signed their life away for monarch and country, have been let down by the very country they signed up to protect. Running a Veterans Breakfast Club, I already see the struggles that veterans go through.

“Some are only living on their Forces Pension, whose value is dependant on their length of service and final rank when leaving the service. For our senior veterans who will no longer receive the Fuel Allowance during the winter, it will mean some not having their heating on during those months to keep costs down.

“The government needs to reconsider this, and as promised talk to the communities, and maybe our new Veterans Minister needs to come up and speak to those veterans that are affected.”

Former Royal Marine and Prudhoe resident Martin Saunders branded the changes “a betrayal”.

He said: “The people who have served this country and paid taxes all their lives, are completely ignored by this government, in favour of those who have contributed nothing to this country! A total disgrace and a betrayal.”

Councillor Gordon Stewart, who represents the Prudhoe South ward on Northumberland County Council, urged residents who are eligible to sign up for pension credit as a matter of urgency.

The Conservative councillor said: “I have been inundated with calls for support from residents in my ward, the payments have been made for years and were expected later this year. £300 is a lot of money even for those with some savings and income above a basic pension.

“This is a massive change that has scared them. I would like to encourage residents who will be impacted by this to email their MP to complain, sign the Age UK petition and check to see if they are eligible to apply for pension credit.”

Responding to the criticism, a Labour Party spokesman said: “We know these are tough choices, especially on winter fuel.

"They are not the choices we wanted to make or expected to make, but they were the right choices to put our country on a firmer footing. Because by taking the tough decisions now to protect the public finances we can begin the process of change.

“This government will protect the triple lock on pensions, which saw the basic state rise by £900 this year and a further rise will be announced at the Budget next month.

“We are under no illusions – especially after advice from officials – that if no action had been taken to repair the Conservatives’ black hole then it would have put financial stability at risk, including the risk of higher debt, higher mortgages and higher costs for the future. This government was not prepared to let that happen.”