In Meriden there are 4,530 people
classed as being in fuel poverty. When millionaires have had their tax bill cut
by the Tory and Lib Dem Coalition government, this is a shocking statistic. [1]
The figures lay bare just how hard rising energy prices have hit
household budgets in recent years. Millions of households both above and below
the poverty line are noticing a real squeeze.
Labour has already promised to freeze energy prices after the
General Election in 2015. Along with the rest of the Labour Party, I am now
also calling for more to be done to help people insulate homes in Meriden.
Local Labour councillors have already worked hard in Meriden to improve standards through insulation measures in a number of tower blocks. However more needs to be
done. It has long been known that UK homes are among the hardest to heat
in Europe, with too little insulation and leaky windows and doors.
Countries such as Sweden have very little fuel poverty, despite much colder
weather and energy prices that are similar to the UK. That’s because
their homes are so much more energy efficient.
Despite this, insulation schemes under the Coalition Government
have been drastically cut back, making it more difficult for people to improve
their homes and keep them warm. [2]
I have therefore joined with over 180 charities, campaign
groups, unions and companies making up the Energy Bill Revolution coalition to
call for a huge programme to upgrade the energy efficiency of our homes,
starting with those lived in by our poorest and most vulnerable households.
[3] Previous work by the Energy Bill Revolution has shown that improving
homes like this would create more jobs, be better for the economy, and be more
popular with the public than any other major building project.
NOTES
[1] Figures from Department of Energy and Climate Change show
that in England as a whole, 2.6m homes are in fuel poverty. Full figures
available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/
