London cost of living protest calls for free amount of energy for all
Protesters in London’s Parliament Square today challenge the cost of living crisis
There will be people out protesting in London's Parliament square today in objection of rising energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis.
It's one of the many protests taking place across the country after energy regulator Ofgem has announced the energy price cap will rise by 54% from 1 April 2022.
The organisation RS21 (Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century) set up the London protest, and will be joined by various other campaigning groups including DPAC (Disabled people against cuts), Fuel Poverty Action and The People’s Assembly.
With inflation rising, Universal credit being cut, and national insurance going up in April, organisations have called the demonstration at 1pm to demand action to challenge the crisis.
The Protestors
Organisation RS21 say their priority is to start something that gets people involved, then to discuss a strategy for demands that they’ve lifted.
“This is affecting everyone. I’m on London living wage and I won’t be able to pay my bills if they go up.
“For those on minimum wage or benefits, it’s just going to be ten times worse”, their spokesperson says.
“This crisis isn't a new thing that's come out of nowhere, it’s a problem that already affected thousands and is now being extended massively to more and more people.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has admitted that the price increase is so substantial it’s not just families on low-income or benefits that will be affected, middle income families are going to “feel the pinch” to.
After last week's energy price cap rise announcement, he has introduced some measures to try and help people including energy bill and council tax rebates.
Fuel Poverty Action campaigns to protect people from fuel poverty and say the fuel price rise is an absolute killer as people are having to choose between heating their homes or feeding their kids.
A spokesperson for the organisation tells us, “Before these rises, before the pandemic, 10,000 people were dying a year in this country because they couldn’t afford to heat their homes.
“Every time the price goes up, that’s more deaths. All the while incomes are being cut when people need it most.”
DPAC, a group fighting for justice and human rights for all disabled people are concerned about the effect the higher prices will have on both disabled and older people.
“They are already being left in abject poverty due to charging for social care
“It is appalling that people with the highest support and social care needs are forced to pay the most,” they say.
Free amount of energy per household
Fuel Poverty Action have created the petition ‘Energy for All’, requesting a free amount of energy for every household. A suitable amount for energy for heat, light and cooking.
A pensioner living in South London and working with the company says, “My grandchildren don’t even come and visit me because my house is too cold.”
Energy company Shell announced its annual profits have quadrupled to almost £14.3 billion in 2021 compared to the previous year.
“The profits are obscene. They’re getting away with it while people are going hungry, making more investments in fossil fuels which are part of the problem”, says Fuel Poverty Action.
“Windfall tax on the huge profits needs to fund a free amount of energy so people can keep their heating and lights on while paying for basics like food.
“The system should be completely overhauled so money goes into both renewable energy and keeping everyone alive.”
The Cost-of-Living Crisis
The term ‘cost of living crisis’ is used when everyday costs of living, like paying for food or energy, rises faster than wages can keep up.
According to ONS (Office of National Statistics) inflation is now the highest it’s been in almost 30 years, leaving household budgets under pressure.
In the last year, the RPI (Retail Price Index) has reached 7.5% and the CPI (Consumer Prices Index) has risen by 5.4%.
A £20 universal credit uplift brought in last year to help during the pandemic but was controversially stopped in October.
From 6 April 2022 National Insurance will increase by 1.25 percentage points, which is to be spent on the NHS, health, and social care in the UK.
Price rises are said to be the result of global energy costs for businesses, which has led to higher customer prices.
Staff and goods shortages, government support ending and covid recovery have also played a part.
READ MORE: Ofgem announces £693 increase in energy price cap
Combating the Crisis
RS21 is also requesting windfall tax on the profits from energy companies, and say current benefits aren’t enough to live on.
“If there’s political willpower to do any amount of redistribution taxation, that would go a huge way to alleviate burden on those hit by this”, they tell us.
“Reformation of the benefit system to. The universal credit uplift cut needs to be brought back with an extension of benefits beyond that.
“Pressure needs to be put on the government to demand to take action, tackle this crisis and help people.”