Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has defended his vote to cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners - arguing the previous Conservative administration left Labour with a "black hole" in the public finances.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saw off a backbench rebellion over plans to restrict the payments to all but the country’s poorest pensioners in Tuesday's vote in the House of Commons.

Mr Abbott was one of 348 MPs to vote for the controversial policy, with 228 opposed.

Labour ministers insist the measure is necessary in order to fill a “£22billion black hole” in the public finances which they say was left behind by their Tory predecessors.

But the Conservatives have strongly opposed the move, as have several charities, as energy bills remain high in comparison to prices seen before the Covid pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Abbott, who defeated Conservative Tom Hunt in July's general election, said in a statement: "I fully appreciate this is an emotive issue, and that some people will disagree with the government's decision to target winter fuel payments to the poorest pensioners.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

"This is certainly a decision that I did not want to make after being elected, but, given the circumstances, I believe it to be the right course of action.

"The previous Conservative government left our new Labour administration with the worst inheritance since the Second World War. Their unfunded spending commitments left a £22billion black hole in the public finances, which they previously looked to cover up.

"This is not an abstract bit of economics. When [former Prime Minister] Liz Truss lost control of the public finances, it was ordinary people, including pensioners, who paid the price through higher mortgages, rent and bills.

"So, for all the political spin coming from the Conservative party, remember the fault of our public finances lies squarely and uniquely with them."

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer was one of the Conservatives to vote against the policy.

He said: “I am desperately sad that the government has whipped Labour MPs to support this unbearably cruel and heartless policy. 

"Not only is the result devastating, but I also think it utterly shameful that the Labour government would rush this cruel policy through at such pace."