Knocking on the doors of people in Wakefield, the biggest issue continues to be the cost-of-living crisis. Local people are genuinely scared about the future and how on earth they can afford to pay the eyewatering costs for energy in the months ahead… and as for winter, well that doesn’t bare thinking about.
Tory ministers continue to be missing in action, totally distracted in a leadership race which is grotesquely unmasking the true colours of the Conservatives; with Rishi Sunak boasting about now diverting money away from 'deprived urban areas' and Liz Truss costing the taxpayer billions in unfunded promises, whilst cutting pay for working people.
The Labour Party has announced a clear, costed and compassionate plan that would ensure that people don’t pay a penny more on their fuel bills, saving a typical family £1,000.
This £29bn emergency package announced by Sir Keir Starmer would prevent the energy price cap rising again through the winter, paid for by extra tax from oil and gas giants who are making eye-watering profits. It would also reduce energy demand and lower bills in the longer term by insulating 19 million homes across the country over the next decade.
Labour originally urged the government to implement this plan a year ago and if the Government had listened, 2 million of the coldest homes could have been insulated by this winter – saving the typical household another £1,000 every year on their energy bills.
Freezing the price cap will also bring inflation down by 4%, making future interest rate rises less likely and easing the burden on households and businesses.
The cost-of-living crisis continues to get worse, but Labour’s fully-funded plan would fix the problems both now and for the future – helping people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy.