As Medway has a higher amount of people in fuel poverty than the regional average, our Group welcomes the recent news that the Conservatives have finally agreed to Labour’s policy of a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies to help those struggling. 

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group said:

“Ending fuel poverty is one of the most important challenges modern Britain faces – in the 21st century nobody should be choosing between heating and eating. 

“So while we welcome the recent decision to implement a windfall tax on energy companies, we are disappointed that the Tories didn’t heed Labour’s advice sooner as many families in our area have had to struggle through the winter with the burden of record level energy bills.

“There’s an unfortunately high chance they’ve only made this move to distract from the report on their law-breaking Prime Minister, and I have zero-confidence in the Government to take swift and necessary action in the future as the economic crisis continues.”

Cllr Jo Howcroft-Scott, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Member for Luton and Wayfield said:

“At the last Full Council meeting I used my Members’ Question to speak up on behalf of our residents suffering from fuel poverty, and to ask what the relevant government bodies were doing to help. I was not happy with the answer I received, and came away believing that the Tories are out of touch and unable to solve this crisis.

“Their slow response to enact this common-sense tax worries me about their ability to lead Britain through this crisis. It’s time for change and for Labour governments in both Westminster and Medway.”

Cllr Siju Adeoye, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Member for Chatham Central added:

“The latest research shows over 10,000 households in Medway are classified as being in a state of fuel poverty. This number has definitely increased due to the inaction of the Tories over the last year on this cost-of-living crisis. Behind every one of these households is a real family who has been struggling and have been punished by the dithering and delay of the Conservatives.”

NOTES

Fuel poverty statistics for Medway can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-regional-fuel-poverty-data-2021