Campaigners have reacted to the Government’s “bleak” budget which failed to help people facing fuel poverty this winter.
A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:
This is a budget that has plenty for champagne swilling, jet-set bankers. But there is nothing for people facing the choice between heating and eating this winter.
The Chancellor’s cold words for people in fuel poverty will be heard in millions of households across the country.
Coming on the back of the pitiful Winter Support Fund, revelations that funding is not helping those most in need and missing billions from the promised support for energy efficiency improvements, this is a bleak budget from the Government.
For people in very worst circumstances on lowest incomes & in the least efficient homes, it’s a negligent budget.
Chancellor had the extra tax receipts & the targeted mechanisms to deliver support before winter.
Chose not to. Cost of living will hit most vulnerable, unabated. https://t.co/Il4iADxJPn
— Adam Scorer (@adam_scorer) October 27, 2021
Campaigners at Scope, tweeted:
Today’s Budget does little to address the fears many disabled people have about their finances going into winter. 💷
Let’s be clear. Disabled people will be among the hardest hit by cuts to Universal Credit, spiraling energy costs and sky-high inflation. #Budget2021
🧵⬇️
— Scope (@scope) October 27, 2021
Ruth London from Fuel Poverty Action added:
Zero on fuel poverty, and zero for the climate – two sides of the same filthy coin.
This budget was a chance to finally fund repair and insulation of the UK’s cold damp housing.
Instead of domestic warmth and health, we got more, polluting and domestic flights.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy’s response to the Heat and Buildings Strategy is also now available online.
A petition for the public to sign is now available on Action Storm: https://actionstorm.org/petitions/fuel-poverty-crisis