This is an editorial opinion piece which was recently published in The Oxford Times, sister paper of the Oxford Mail.

A landmark moment for the new government was reached last week. 

A backbench rebellion was seen off as the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance was rubber-stamped. 

In July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that from this winter, pensioners in England and Wales will no longer be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment unless they receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits.

Our front page this week reports on how Oxfordshire's MP's voted and why.

Neither of our two Labour MP's rebelled, so it won't come as a shock to find out how each one voted. 

Labour's Sean Woodcock (Banbury) and Anneliese Dodds (Oxford East) voted for the cut whereas the Lib Dems, consisting of Layla Moran (Oxford West and Abingdon), Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage), Freddie van Mierlo (Henley and Thame) Charlie Maynard (Witney) and Calum Miller (Bicester and Woodstock), voted against it. 

We also bring you the latest stats on the sheer volume of people who benefitted from the payments last year. In Oxfordshire, it's more than 125,000. 

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Ms Reeves has said the move will help them plug an estimated £22bn black hole in the public finances.

Supporters of the cut say that it will make pensioners better off by increasing the amount they receive in their state pension. Opponents say that, with the addition of the cost of living crisis, pensioners will be worse off. 

The plans were even described as "evil" by a former monk this week. 

Kevin McGrath, 81, said he is "deeply concerned about the winter."

He told Sky News: "Of all the wealth in Britain, they target the ones who have very little in life.

"I fully understand that the government has difficult decisions to make, but why are they starting at the bottom, why don't they start at the top. It's evil. It's a crime."

Mr McGrath and his wife recently moved into a small, two-bedroom apartment to cut down on energy bills.

Neither have a private pension and their only source of income is their state pension.

To be eligible, he will have to apply to see if he meets the criteria to continue to receive the benefit, something he says is a source of embarrassment among older people.

Many others across Oxfordshire will be in a similar position wondering whether they can afford to stump up the extra cash. 

It could prove to be a very stressful and unsettling time, although politicians are reassuring those affected that support is available. 

Will this be a winter of discontent? Only time will tell.