By Mal Butler
A day of action, calling for the eradication of fuel poverty and the nationalisation of the UK’s energy resources, took place in Newport on Wednesday.
Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, was continuing its ‘Unite Energy 4 All’ campaign, to demand that nobody should choose between heating or eating.
It came the day after the latest energy price cap rise came into effect, which saw a rise of 6.4 per cent from £1,738 to £1,849, for an average dual-fuel household.
Alan Burgess, of Unite, said: “We’re here just one day into a 6.4 per cent price increase on the energy cap, which is just one of seven increases which will impact on inflation including Council Tax, the television license, water bills and the rest.
“This is on top of a week in which the Chancellor had a mini-statement, which brought the axe on disability benefits, on top of the Waspi women who were refused a decent pension, and on top of the axing of the winter fuel allowance.
“This Labour government is hammering the working classes, when it should be looking after the working classes.”
The protest was one of 40 across the country with Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, adding: “It’s time to end the chaos in our energy network, which allows profiteers to flourish while workers and communities are left in the cold.
“No-one should ever have to choose between heating and eating. We believe it is time for public ownership, and for fuel poverty to be consigned to the dustbin of history.”
Isle of Wight Observer