SOUTH DORSET Lib Dems have passed a motion of no confidence in the area’s Labour MP, Lloyd Hatton.

The party says his support for the decision to scrap winter fuel payments of £300 for pensioners was “a cruel decision.”

The group says the new MP needs to be reminded that his first duty is to those who elect him, not the Westminster Government.

A spokesman for the Lib Dem executive group said: “It is inevitable that this decision will adversely affect many vulnerable older people, and we strongly urge Mr Hatton to lobby his colleagues in the Government to reverse this wholly unnecessary decision.

"We note that all of the 72 Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the government in this motion, including our neighbouring constituency MPs Edward Morello (West Dorset) and Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset and North Poole).”

The wording of the group’s resolutions reads: “The South Dorset Liberal Democrat executive formally issues a vote of no confidence in its member of parliament, Lloyd Hatton, on the grounds that his vote in parliament for the government’s decision to scrap this winter’s fuel payments for the bulk of pensioners, will be detrimental to their general health and we consider it a cruel decision.”

The statement added:  “Whilst we would wish to support our new MP in his endeavours in Parliament, it would appear that he has forgotten that his first duty is to the constituents who elected him, not to the government in Westminster.

"Of course, there are many pensioners who are comfortably off and have no requirement for the £300 winter fuel payment each year, but this is not the case for all or even most pensioners.

"Seeing such a cut to incomes for all but the very poorest pensioners who claim Pensions Credit just as fuel bill look set to rise again is too cruel, too close to winter for them to budget and too blunt an instrument.”

The group say that anyone worried about a loved one aged 66-plus can check if they are eligible for Pension Credit by visiting the Government website -  www.gov.uk/pension-credit.

Mr Hatton's office has been contacted to ask for a comment on the resolution.