'Bills too high, pay too small - we need energy for ALL' 650k petition presented to Downing Street

With a cardboard cut-out of Liz Truss as real one otherwise engaged (Photo: Fuel Poverty Action)
 

Away from the pantomime in the House of Commons, a petition calling for an overhaul of our energy pricing structure was delivered to Downing Street yesterday.. The ‘Energy For All’ petition signed by over 650,000 people, calls for a universal, free amount of energy that would cover everyone’s basic necessities of heating, lighting and cooking. This would be paid for by ending the millions of pounds spent daily on fossil fuel subsidies, windfall taxes on excess profits of energy companies and higher prices for profligate energy use.

The event, organised by Fuel Poverty Action, included a rally and march attended by around 100 people.

 

Stuart Bretherton, Energy For All Campaign Coordinator, said:

 

Millions of people will face fuel poverty this winter, with prices sitting at double what they were last year, and now renewed uncertainty over how high they will climb next year. Energy For All would deliver justice and security to all consumers now and in the future, by ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met and that steps are taken to address the climate crisis. Ordinary people cannot keep footing the bill for crises created by the wealthy, it's time for the big polluters and profiteers to pay their share.

 

In Old Palace Yard, Westminster, the crowd were addressed by speakers including Lord Prem Sikka, Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP and Matt Lay, National Officer for Energy at Unison. Also in attendance were representatives of a number of different social movements, NGOs and direct action groups. Speakers from groups that have endorsed the campaign ranged from Disabled People Against Cuts, Tax Justice UK, the National Pensioners Convention and Just Stop Oil.

 

 

 Photo: Fuel Poverty Action

 

 

The march was led by a large ‘Energy For All’ banner while others carried light-bulb shaped placards displaying the same message. Attendees chanted, ‘Energy Pricing’s: Upside Down!’with a cardboard cut-out of Prime Minister Liz Truss standing on her head visualising this call and response.

 

 

Ruth London of Fuel Poverty Action said:

 

In our present system, the less energy you use, the more you pay per unit and the more you use, the less you pay per unit. This is upside down. Energy For All is a plan to turn it rightside up.

 

 Barry Gardiner MP (Brent North) addresses the crowd

 

Over 20 MPs from multiple parties also attended to show their support for the demand. A day prior to the petition hand-in, Early Day Motion 470: Proposed Energy Equity Commission Bill was launched in parliament. The bill would realise some of the key components of the ‘Energy For All’ demand, implementing a Universal basic energy allowance, supplemented by a social tariff and a national street-by-street insulation and retrofitting program.

 

 

Clive Lewis MP said:

 

 I know from listening to my constituents, from knocking on their doors, that they are in dire straits. That’s why I’ve introduced the universal basic energy bill. That bill will ensure that everyone, including the poorest, have up to 90% of their energy needs met.

 

 

Green MP Caroline Lucas (Photo: Fuel Poverty Action)

 

Caroline Lucas MP said:

 

We are here to say cold homes are a political choice and we are here to demand different political choices. It’s not a choice between heating and eating, people can’t do either. We are here to demand that this government puts people and the planet ahead of the profits of the big energy companies.

 

Fuel Poverty Action vows to continue pushing for Energy For All which could deliver energy security to consumers and end fuel poverty, while also accelerating action on climate change. The group will do so online, in parliament and on the streets and invites people of all experiences and backgrounds to join in demanding Energy For All.

 

 

 Further information at Fuel Poverty Action website.

Why Caroline Lucas is voting to recognise Palestine

13 October 2014
Today I will be voting in Parliament for the UK to officially recognise Palestine.

The vote is on a motion that I am proud to sponsor and which simply calls on the Government to extend the same recognition to Palestine as it already extends to Israel.

So far 134 out of 193 UN member states have formally recognised Palestine and Sweden recently announced it intended to grant recognition too.

Britain needs to show some leadership and be amongst the first Western European countries to recognise Palestine and its right to self-determination.

This vote will have no immediate bearing on Palestine’s bid to be granted statehood via the UN - something I also support. But it will send a powerful signal that Britain backs a political solution to the conflict and potentially reinvigorate the peace process.

The UK Government already recognises the principle that the Palestinian people have an inalienable right to self-determination but has not granted this officially because it wants to reserve the right to do so at a moment of its choosing to best help bring about peace.

That time is now. Recognition is a good starting-point for negotiations and would help guarantee that the focus of talks is about how Palestine becomes a viable and secure sovereign state - not whether it becomes one. Denying recognition as the current UK government is doing is entirely at odds with the principle of self-determination.

I oppose an amendment that seeks to make British recognition of Palestine dependent on the conclusion of successful peace negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.

Neither Israel nor Palestine’s right to exist should be subject to veto or any kind of conditions and we must actively challenge any refusal by either side to deny the other’s right to exist.

I have visited occupied Palestine on several occasions and, like so many, was horrified at the latest assault on Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military.

It can be difficult to comprehend the scale of the human tragedy that is occurring on this narrow strip of land, day in day out. Not just when the camera crews and reporters are there, but every single day.
It’s essential that human rights violations and violence on all sides cease and that the international community take strong action to hold the perpetrators to account. We also need a clear acknowledgement that building on the recent peace agreement between Israel and Hamas requires, first, an end to the siege of Gaza and then to Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said last month: "Any peace effort that does not tackle the root causes of the crisis will do little more than set the stage for the next cycle of violence."
One of those root causes is the eternal question mark that hangs over Palestine’s right to exist. Recognition would help the process of removing that question mark and allow Israelis and Palestinians to look forward to a future defined by equality, justice, freedom and peace.
Hundreds of constituents have written and asked me to stand up for the Palestinian right to self-determination. I am proud to have the opportunity to do just that.

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