UK households face an extra £60 cost as energy bills rise by 4%, prompting a warning of an “urgent need” for government support. David Barclay, Director of The Warm Welcome Campaign, which resources and connects more than 6,000 heated community spaces in the UK, expressed concern over the increase to typical annual bills.
Warm Welcome Campaign responds to bill increase
Barclay said: “Andy Burnham has promised to offer people ‘breathing space’ from the Cost of Living Crisis, and there is clearly an urgent need for Government at all levels to consider how people can be supported to navigate this further rise in energy bills. At the Warm Welcome Campaign we have already been working with partners to turn our network of community spaces into an effective Safety Net where guests can access practical help and support with energy bills, and we are keen to work with partners and funders to help strengthen and stretch this Safety Net across the whole country.”
VAT cut and potential Budget support
Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, told PA that the Budget on October 28 may offer more support to under-pressure households, on top of the decision to remove VAT from household electricity bills. The removal of the 5% levy until March 31 next year will save the average bill payer around £45 a year, estimates from the Government show. Households will still pay 5% VAT for gas.
The policy was one of Mr Burnham’s first moves as Prime Minister to ease household bills, announced in July on the day after he took over the post.
Prime Minister endorses Warm Welcome
The Prime Minister previously wrote to Mr Barclay, endorsing the work of the Warm Welcome Campaign. He stated that “the principle behind this work is one I strongly support: that better health and wellbeing will only be achieved if we put more power, resource and trust into the hands of communities themselves”.
Mr Burnham added: “Libraries, community centres, faith spaces and local voluntary groups are not optional extras [...] they are part of the social infrastructure that gives people dignity and support when they most need it. The growth of Warm Welcome into a UK-wide network of more than 6,000 spaces is therefore a powerful testament to the people and places-driven leadership this country needs. Ultimately for me, my premiership is about putting people and communities closer to the heart of decision-making and to ensure this is equally happening right across government.”
