Thousands of Silver Voices members and supporters, including the 94,000 who have signed our petition, are writing to their constituency MPs this weekend, calling for the Government’s attempt to means-test the winter fuel payment to be withdrawn or defeated.

The Government is trying to railroad this policy through by calling an early vote and bullying its new MPs.

Despite Labour’s manifesto omitting the intention to deprive 10 million pensioners of this vital payment, and the lack of any consultation or impact assessment, they tried to slip this in through secondary legislation without a vote.

Public pressure, including our campaign, has at least ensured a vote next week.

The other major parties oppose the Regulations so Labour MPs must search their consciences before they vote.

This brutal policy will undoubtedly increase the number of excess deaths caused by cold-related conditions this winter.

The rationale for universal payment is that all older people need to keep warm to keep healthy, often need energy-hungry medical or disability equipment, and usually spend more time in their homes.

Even Government supporters accept that the poverty level cut-off point proposed for this benefit of £218 per week is far too low. Millions of senior citizens on very modest incomes will be plunged into fuel poverty.

Silver Voices supports the principle of universal payment, but to get the Government off its hook, we would suggest a new cut-off point at the level of the higher rate of tax.

We hope that pressure from MPs over the next few days will persuade the Government to withdraw the regulations, continue with the winter fuel payment for all this winter, and consult on possible future reforms.

But if the Government ignores democratic pressures and seeks to force through a vote to scrap the universal payment, we hope Labour MPs will place the quality of life of their older constituents before their short-term political careers.

We were promised change, but not for the worse.