MP David Chadwick has welcomed a major UK Government U-turn on winter fuel payments, after the support was previously restricted to pensioners on the lowest incomes.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that all pensioners with an annual income of £35,000 or less will now receive the winter fuel payment — a move expected to benefit around nine million people across England and Wales.

Last year, more than 10 million pensioners lost access to the payment, worth up to £300, when it was limited to those receiving pension credit. The cut drew widespread criticism from charities, campaigners and politicians, including Mr Chadwick, the Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe.

Mr Chadwick, who spoke against the policy in Parliament, said the reversal would come as a relief to many older people across his constituency - but warned the hardship it caused “cannot be overstated”.

“Finally, the Chancellor has listened to the Liberal Democrats and the tireless campaigners in realising how disastrous this policy was, but the misery it has caused cannot be overstated,” he said.

“Countless Welsh pensioners were forced to choose between heating and eating all whilst the Government buried its head in the sand for months on end, ignoring those who were really suffering.

“We will now study the detail of this proposal closely to make sure those who need support actually get that support. The pain they went through this winter cannot be for nothing.”

Following the initial cut last year, Mr Chadwick launched efforts to help constituents apply for pension credit and also called on the Welsh Government to speed up its home insulation programme to reduce long-term energy bills.

The payment - worth £200 per household with a pensioner under 80, and £300 where someone is over 80 - will be made automatically, as before.