I’ve campaigned on fuel poverty for over 10 years – I’ve never seen things so bad

The government is in chaos and they’re ignoring the crisis in the country. Ordinary people are desperate. That’s why I took people’s energy bills to parliament to show them how bad things really are.

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I’ve spent over 10 years as a volunteer campaigning with Fuel Poverty Action, desperately trying to draw attention to the stress and fear ordinary people have to deal with because of energy insecurity.

In all those years, I’ve never seen things get as bad as they are now. Skyrocketing energy bills are at the absolute heart of this cost-of-living crisis. With an estimated seven million households across Britain in fuel poverty this winter, the scale of this crisis is terrifying.

Fuel Poverty Action, together with Greenpeace UK, took action in parliament. We took copies of energy bills collected from all over the country to the Central Lobby of Parliament. Because we refuse to continue to be ignored by this chaotic government – even if that means I might’ve been in jail by the time you read this.

A large group of activists sit in an ornate hall in the Palace of Westminster holding a banner saying 'chaos costs lives'

Activists from Fuel Poverty Action and Greenpeace link arms and read testimonies from people struggling with their bills from all over the UK and unfurled a banner reading ‘Chaos costs lives’ © Suzanne Plunkett / Greenpeace

Political leaders are so focused on each other, but they should be focusing on the energy crisis and unaffordable bills

The Central Lobby has a long tradition of hosting protests, and I’ve been here before. As you walk in, it’s impossible not to notice the warm glow of the chandeliers’ lights reflecting against the gilded, ornate walls. It’s a warm glow that’s missing from all too many UK homes right now.

Above the chandelier is a grand dome that creates a powerful acoustic effect that I remember clearly from the first time I protested in this room. The irony is not lost on me that this is quite literally an echo chamber. Today, more than ever, the attention of our political leaders is on each other and not where it needs to be: on the cost of living crisis and the people facing unaffordable energy bills.

“As you walk into parliament, it’s impossible not to notice the warm glow of the chandeliers’ lights reflecting against the gilded, ornate walls. It’s a warm glow that’s missing from all too many UK homes right now. ”
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That’s the most frustrating thing about this problem. We are sleepwalking into a life-or-death winter for so many people, but the government refuses to listen to us. Instead, they listen to their own voices and the voices of major fossil fuel companies by protecting their obscene profits.

A proper windfall tax could fund energy for all, giving us energy security long-term

The government is gambling with the economy and people’s lives by prioritising profits over lives. Ordinary people are choosing between heating and eating, at a time when oil and gas companies are lining their pockets. The government is willing to put a windfall tax on renewable energy, but can’t bring itself to properly tax the companies who have plunged us into this mess in the first place.

“We are sleepwalking into a life-or-death winter for so many people, but the government refuses to listen to us. Instead, they listen to their own voices and the voices of major fossil fuel companies by protecting their obscene profits.”
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A proper windfall tax could be used to fund ‘Energy For All’. This would provide everyone a universal, free amount of energy – enough to cover the basics like heating, lighting and cooking. Along with ending the millions of pounds of taxpayers money spent on subsidies to fossil fuels every day, this would give us all energy security, taking account of people’s actual needs. A petition to bring in Energy For All was handed to the government last Wednesday, with over 650,000 signatures. That is 650,000 voices that the government refuses to listen to!

So many people are calling out the government right now, but it is even worse than it seems. Our voices are only a sliver of those at risk. Personally, I know lots of people whose pride is keeping them from admitting their fears about heating their homes  this winter. They try to appear calm and relaxed for other people’s sake. But I know them, and I know they are kept awake at night by both cold and the fear of things getting even more bleak. We aren’t even hearing the full extent of quite how bad the situation really is, as people suffer in silence.

“Our voices are only a sliver of those at risk… We aren’t even hearing the full extent of quite how bad the situation really is, as people suffer in silence.”
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Insulating homes would help people right now, as well as lowering bills long-term

We have the least energy-efficient housing in Europe, but instead of insulating people’s homes, the government prefers to insulate the profits of the fossil fuel companies.

Insulation is easy, fast, efficient and effective. It also stops the ridiculously expensive energy we’re buying going literally through the roof to dissipate yet more heat into the sky. Insulation can ensure ordinary people stay warm and lower bills because everyone is simply using less energy.

Insulation can also make an impact right now. As the situation gets worse and worse, we need instant action to limit the damage. If the government’s feeble support for insulation was stagnating, that would be bad enough. But it’s actually getting even worse. Thanks to a lack of public spending, home insulation installations have plummeted by 95% since 2012.

We need the government to listen to ordinary people

We cannot continue like this. Insulate our houses, reform the energy system to make survival affordable for those in fuel poverty, and use those vast, unearned oil and gas profits to do it.

“As the situation gets worse and worse, we need instant action to limit the damage.”
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The sooner we implement these changes, the fewer tough decisions people will have to make.

I recently moved from East Cambridgeshire to West Drayton in Greater London. There are many reasons why I moved, but one of them was the fact that my new studio flat is warmed by the surrounding flats. The thought of trying to heat the old, draughty house in East Cambridgeshire over this winter seemed like a daunting prospect.

This is the reality of the decisions people make in modern Britain. I am just one of many people making these sacrifices every day in the UK. It shouldn’t have to be this way. And it doesn’t have to be. But for things to change, we need the government to listen to ordinary people.

Tackle soaring energy bills

Oil and gas companies are getting richer while people are struggling to pay their bills. Tell the UK Government that every person in every neighbourhood, across every village, town and city deserves to be Warm this Winter.

Sign the petition

Find out more about Fuel Poverty Action (FPA) on their website. You can also keep up with FPA on twitter and FPA on facebook.

Guest authors work with us to share their personal experiences and perspectives, but views in guest articles aren’t necessarily those of Greenpeace.

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