The chief executive of the Labour-run Council could be asked to write to the Labour government asking it to reverse its policy of winter fuel payments for pensioners.

And she could also find herself writing to the town’s two Labour MPs urging them to lobby for the reversal of a policy they supported in a House of Commons vote.

But that’s only if a new motion to the council is passed this week.

The government has introduced restrictions on winter fuel payments for state pensioners, restricting the payments of £200 or £300 to those on pension credits.

Both Swindon South’s Heidi Alexander and Swindon North’s Will Stone supported the government when it came to a vote in Parliament last week.

But now two Conservative councillors have put in a motion expressing dismay at the move.

Proposed by Councillor Daniel Adams and seconded by Councillor Dale Heenan the motion says: “This council acknowledges the significant role that winter fuel payments play in helping the older residents of Swindon and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

“The council is concerned that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October which, combined with the removal of Winter Fuel Payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.”

It adds: “Cutting the payments for people not on pension credit this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is wrong and that the Labour government’s policy decision is one that will potentially jeopardise the health as well as the finances of huge numbers of older people in our town this winter.”

If the motion is passed as well as the council’s chief executive Sam Mowbray being asked to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Swindon’s two MPs to request the policy be stopped immediately, the council will be mandated to begin a communications campaign encourage people to take up pension credit if they are eligible and to sign the Age UK petition to save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners and encourage all members to do the same.

According to the motion, 16 per cent of Swindon residents, 37,000 people, are over 65, with the majority being pensioners.

For the motion to be passed, it will need the support of Labour councillors who hold a significant majority in the Euclid Street chamber.

The council will meet at 7pm on Thursday September 19.