Fuel povery Action's 600k 'Energy for All' petition to be presented to Downing Street on Wednesday after rally at Old Palace Yard addressed by Caroline Lucas and Clive Lewis

 From Fuel Poverty Action

Over 600,000 people have signed a growing petition calling on Prime Minister Liz Truss to end fuel poverty by implementing a new pricing structure: Energy For All.  Energy For All would give everyone a free amount of energy to cover the basics like heating, lighting and cooking. This would be paid for by higher prices on profligate energy use; windfall taxes and ending the millions of pounds spent daily on fossil fuel subsidies.

The petition is part of the ‘Energy For All’ campaign organised by Fuel Poverty Action,  and will be delivered to Downing Street on Wednesday 19th October.

Over 20 MPs are expected to attend a rally from 1pm at King George V Statue, Old Palace Yard, Westminster.  Campaigners will then proceed to Downing Street to deliver the petition to the Prime Minister at 2.30 p.m.

Ruth London, Co-Director of Fuel Poverty Action said:
 

The government’s latest measures will leave millions in miserable poverty this winter, and many thousands will die from cold homes. The existing pricing system is fundamentally unfair. The less you use, the more you pay per unit. Even people who are turning their heating off entirely are clobbered with the heavy standing charge. 

Energy For All will take our subsistence money back from the energy  giants who are sucking it out of our homes.  It will make sure that what people receive is based on what they need.  People heating mansions will pay more.  People who use no more than they need will pay far less.  And the government will finally be incentivised to insulate our homes. 

MPs Caroline Lucas and Clive Lewis, and Lord Prem Sikka will be addressing the crowd, alongside people who are facing a cold and miserable winter due to ill health, damp housing and rising prices.  For more information on moves inside Parliament, please see their quotes, below. 

The principle of a free allocation of energy, with higher tariffs for those who use far more than they need, has the support of 75% of the population according to a nationwide ICM survey in June

The idea is supported by a wide and growing range of organisaitons including the TUC, Disabled People Against Cuts, New Economics Foundation, Tax Justice UK, Single Mothers Self Defence, Parents for Future, Women Against Rape, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Global Women’s Strike, Disabled Mothers' Rights Campaign, 350.org, Lewisham Pensioners Forum, and Just Stop Oil. Representatives of many of these movements will be at the rally on 19 October.
 

 

On Tuesday 18th October Clive Lewis, the Labour Member of Parliament for Norwich South, will present the Energy Equity Commission Bill (a Private Members’ Bill) in the House of Commons Chamber. He will also table an Early Day Motion on the Bill, which Members of Parliament can sign if they are supportive. These initiatives have cross-party support.

Clive Lewis MP, lead sponsor of the Energy Equity Commission Bill said:
 

In an age of climate and economic shocks, there’s an urgent need for a new social settlement that ensures that when it comes to life’s essentials the varying needs of all are met – from energy to housing, from connectivity to healthcare. The Government’s plan will benefit the richest the most, and let oil and gas companies off the hook for polluting and profiteering. Meanwhile, too many households will not have their energy needs met. I support the demand for ‘Energy for All’ because access to energy to meet the needs of a decent life is a basic right. That is also why I am proposing a Private Members’ Bill to introduce a free Universal Basic Energy allowance and a retrofit revolution.

 

Caroline Lucas said: 

 

Millions are already in fuel poverty, yet this Government is failing to provide anywhere near sufficient support to keep people warm throughout this forthcoming winter at the same time as building long term energy resilience.  Rather than spending billions on unfunded tax cuts and subsidies for climate-wrecking fossil fuels, we need to see a windfall tax on obscene oil & gas profits which is worthy of its name, a retrofit revolution to insulate homes and slash bills, and a proper plan to ensure everyone has energy security during the harshest time of the year.

Paula Peters, Disabled People Against Cuts, said: 

 

DPAC supports Fuel Poverty Action's "Energy For All" proposal, it's a vital measure for the safety and wellbeing of disabled and older people in poverty.  There are disabled people who use dialysis machines, ventilators, need to charge power wheelchairs, need the fridge to keep certain medications refrigerated, who are rationing electricity because they cannot afford to charge their equipment to keep them going every day.  People in social care and in energy debt with bailiffs at their doors demanding payment.. Disabled people are in a terrifying  position, barely surviving or dying. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

  

Every family deserves access to affordable, clean energy. But the way we get billed today means that basic energy needs are charged at the same rate as extravagant use.

We need a new approach that gives everyone a free energy allowance for basic needs like heating, cooking and lighting. But when people are powering luxury lifestyles, like heating a private swimming pool, they should expect to pay a higher rate.
 

The government should also put a much higher windfall tax on oil and gas profits. This will help stop profiteering and it will raise revenue that can shield households from the cost of interventions to keep bills down.

Sara Hall, Head of Movement, Tax Justice UK said:

  

Ordinary families are seeing their bills go through the roof at the same time that some big companies like BP and Shell are raking in record profits. A beefed up windfall tax on oil and gas company excessive profits would ensure that these companies aren’t profiteering during these difficult times. The government must use the tax system to raise revenues from the wealthy and big companies, to invest in our economy, in the green transition and ensure everyone has access to energy to cook food, heat their home and keep the lights on.