As the nights draw in and winter approaches people have been telling me they are worried about how cold it will get and the choices they will have to make to pay their energy bills. Frankly I don’t think that is right. People shouldn’t have to make the choice between putting food on the table and turning on the heating.
People round here tell me times are tough. Monthly bills are going up and people are working harder to make ends meet. That amounts to a cost of living crisis for people in Swindon – and across the country.
As the nights draw in and winter approaches people have been telling me they are worried about how cold it will get and the choices they will have to make to pay their energy bills. Frankly I don’t think that is right. People shouldn’t have to make the choice between putting food on the table and turning on the heating.
But since David Cameron has been in Downing Street prices have risen faster than wages in 38 out of 39 months and energy bills have gone up by almost £300. When the price of energy increases energy companies pass this on but when it drops consumers don’t see their bills fall.
The problem is David Cameron can’t deal with the cost of living crisis because he stands up for a privileged few, not for ordinary families and people working hard to make ends meet. David Cameron has cut tax for people on over £150,000 a year while raising it for everyone else. We can only tackle the cost of living crisis by building an economy that works for working people.
So I’m delighted that Ed Miliband has announced that Labour will freeze gas and electricity prices until the start of 2017 if Labour wins the next election. This will save a typical household £120 a year – helping hardworking families who are facing a cost of living crisis.
Local businesses tell me that energy bills are the second largest cost that they face. Labour’s energy freeze policy will save the average business £1,800 a year, giving our small businesses the support they need at a vital time for our local economy.
But people round here need help now. So I’m calling on David Cameron to freeze our bills now. And I’m asking local people to sign my petition today so that the voices of South Swindon are heard loud and clear in Downing Street. You can sign my petition at www.southswindonlabour.co.uk/freezethatbill/petition or tweet a picture of your bill with the hashtag #freezethatbill.
I’ve been out and about with my Energy Petition team and hundreds of people throughout Swindon and Wroughton have already signed – why not join them and add your name? Send David Cameron a clear message that he needs to act to freeze bills now.