The Scottish Conservatives have rejected my call for all Scottish Politicians to unite in demanding more action from the UK Government on skyrocketing energy bills.
The Scottish Conservatives refused to sign my motion calling on emergency action from the UK Government in the form of an immediate energy bill freeze.
I also wrote to Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross MSP, urging him to support the call for a freeze on energy prices, not hide behind his Westminster colleagues, and put Scotland and its people first at this time of great hardship for so many.
My motion has been supported by Labour, SNP, and Liberal Democrat MSPs.
With the Prime Minister missing in action on his farewell tour and the two candidates to replace him seemingly unable to rise to the demands of this unprecedented hardship for the majority of the country, it is no wonder that people across the country are terrified that they are being sacrificed for the rich few.
While the Scottish Government can take limited action to help the most vulnerable in our society, it is clear that bigger and bolder action is required, and this can only come from the UK Government.
I have called for Scottish politicians to unite in the interest of the people of Scotland to pressure the UK Government into taking bold action to stop the impact of one of the worst cost-of-living crises in living memory, starting with an immediate freeze on energy bills.
Polling shows two-thirds of the country support the introduction of COVID-style support to help households across the country with the cost-of-living crisis and it should be the priority of all politicians to bring this to fruition.
It is unacceptable that the inaction of politicians will lead to widespread poverty, and I believe failure to act will result in an enormous blow to the physical, mental and financial health of the people and the potential for civil unrest.
It is extremely disappointing that the Scottish Tories have decided to hide behind their Westminster colleagues in doing nothing and refuse to join with Scottish politicians of all parties in an act of unity for the people of Scotland.
I urge them to drop whatever political pretence they are operating under and stand up for the constituents relying on politicians to deliver the support needed.
Motion ref: S6M-05730
Immediate Emergency Action Needed from UK Government on Energy Costs
Submitted by: Alex Rowley, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Tuesday, August 23, 2022
That the Parliament calls on the UK Government to take action to freeze energy bills immediately as a matter of national emergency; understands that the energy price cap is reportedly forecast to nearly double in October 2022, rising from £1,971 to around £3,600, and then again to over £5,000 in January 2023, with some further forecasts reportedly showing potential rises to £6,000 in April 2023, representing a nearly five-fold increase in energy prices in the space of a year; is deeply concerned by reports showing that 13 million people will be pushed into debt if the price cap increases to the £3,600 figure in October 2022; believes that it is inevitable that many more people will be pushed into poverty by potential further rises in January and April 2023; considers that almost one million Scottish households will be trapped in extreme fuel poverty by January 2023, meaning that over one in three Scots households (38.8%), will be by hit with the highest rates of fuel poverty, where more than 20% of a household’s net income is spent on energy costs; is concerned by reports from Citizens Advice Scotland who, it understands, have said that soaring energy bills are driving “frightening” demand for their advice services around utilities and food insecurity; is troubled by research into household finances in the UK reportedly showing that the UK’s poorest 10% of households will see their real incomes fall by 17.3%, meaning that the burden of the cost of living crisis, it believes, will be felt sharpest by those that have the lowest incomes; understands that polling has indicated that two-thirds of voters support COVID-style support to help households with the cost of living crisis; believes that politicians describing measures as “handouts” is not helpful to those facing an emergency situation, and calls on all politicians across Scotland to unite and call on the UK Government to take immediate and necessary emergency action to address what it sees as one of the worst cost of living crises in living memory.
Letter-to-Douglas-Ross-MSP-22.08.22
