Skip to main content

Lib Dems Demands Rural Cost of Living Rescue Package Including Heating Oil Price Cap



Welsh Lib Dems call for rescue package for struggling families in rural areas

Conservatives are accused of leaving rural communities “out in the cold” after refusing to cap the price of heating oil.

10/13 of the seats the Welsh Conservatives hold at a Westminster level are rural in nature alongside 7/8 of the constituency Senedd seats they hold.

Ceredigion, Powys, Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire are most reliant on heating oil.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have demanded a rural cost of living rescue package, including a cap on heating oil prices to help struggling families off the gas grid. The party warned that the Conservatives are leaving rural communities “out in the cold” by refusing to help with soaring bills.

 

The rural cost of living rescue package would include a cap on heating oil costs to support the estimated 243,100 Welsh properties off the gas grid and bring in an emergency tax cut slashing VAT from 20% to 17.5%, saving families an average of £600 each. The VAT cut would save a motorist £48 a year on filling up their car.

 

The Conservative government has refused to cap prices for heating oil, leaving consumers vulnerable to soaring prices. In response to a recent parliamentary question, a Conservative minister said: “A price cap is not necessary as consumers can shop around and switch suppliers more easily than for gas and electricity.”

 

Prices of heating oil have more than doubled since August 2021. It means the cost of heating oil for the average household is expected to soar by between £700 to £1,700 this year.

 

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds is calling for an energy price cap for heating oil to help families in rural areas struggling to get by. Under the party’s proposals, the UK Government would step in to cover the cost if oil goes above the set price, protecting families from soaring prices and preventing small business suppliers from going bust.

 

Analysis by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has revealed five out of six of the areas most dependent most reliant on heating oil fall within the Senedd region of Mid & West Wales. Ceredigion has the highest proportion, where just over 35% of homes use heating oil, followed by Powys (29.5%) and Ynys Mon (20%). Other hard-hit areas include Carmarthenshire (24%), Pembrokeshire (22.7%), Gwynedd (15%) and Monmouthshire (12%).

 It comes as the outgoing Deputy President of the National Farmers Union of England, Stuart Robert announced he has joined the Liberal Democrats, warning that the Conservatives are letting down farmers and rural communities.

 Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

 “This Conservative government is leaving rural communities out in the cold through their stubborn refusal to help those facing soaring heating bills.

 

“People are being plunged into fuel poverty but instead of helping, the Conservatives are raising unfair taxes again and again.

 

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are demanding a rescue package for rural areas, through a cap on heating oil prices and an emergency tax cut to save struggling families six hundred pounds.

 

“Next week’s local elections are a chance to send Boris Johnson a message that people in rural areas are fed up of being taken for granted. Every vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats will help elect a strong local champion who will fight for a fair deal for their community.”

Labels:
Location: Wales, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wales Hosepipe Ban – Criticism of Welsh Water Over Large Bonuses While Infrastructure Creaks

Following the news that people in some areas of Wales could face a hosepipe ban this summer, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised Welsh Water for paying large bonuses to its bosses while infrastructure creaks. Data from Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, showed that 169.9 megalitres/day were being wasted through leakage in Welsh Water’s network during 2020-21. The company also failed to meet its Per capita consumption (PCC) targets which are designed to push for less water to be taken from the environment.   The Welsh Liberal Democrats say that their analysis of Company House data shows that executives at Dŵr Cymru were paid £2.6 million in 2020 and 2021 including £931,000 in bonuses, benefits and inc entives.   Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:   " We cannot control the hot and dry weather, but we can control wastage through outdated or poorly-maintained infrastructure.   “Welsh Water brands itself as “no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Calls for Labour to Go Further on War on Plastic

  The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on Welsh Labour to be more ambitious in its war on plastic and introduce a bottle deposit scheme in Wales. While welcoming the long-delayed plans to ban single-use carrier bags and plastic drinking straws in Wales, the Welsh Liberal Democrats said there was more to be done.   Under legislation introduced today, single-use carrier bags, plastic drinking straws, plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers and cotton buds would all be banned under the proposed new law.   Research from Wrap Cymru estimates that 400,000 tonnes of plastic waste are generated in Wales each year, with 67 per cent of that waste being packaging. Another report by the Marine Conservation Society found that there were 29 drinks containers for every 100 meters of beach in Wales.   A Deposit Return Scheme, also known as a bottle deposit scheme, encourages people to recycle drinks containers such as plastic or glass bottles. People pay a small deposit f...
Post a Comment
Read more

Councillor Alun Jenkins awarded a BEM in the Queen's New Year Honours List

Alun Jenkins, the Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor for Offa Ward in Wrexham has been awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Political and Public Service in the New Year 2022 Honours List. Cllr Jenkins has continuously served Offa Ward for over 50 years as its councillor, having been elected in 1970 and is one of the longest-serving Liberal Democrat councillors in Wales. Cllr Alun Jenkins. Congratulating Alun on his BEM Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “Alun has been a stalwart public servant for Offa Ward and the whole of Wrexham for as long as I can remember and it's fantastic to see his public service recognised with a BEM. “Alun has a strong reputation for always thoroughly engaging with constituents and also set a tremendous record during his tenures as Deputy Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Finance. “Alun has not only served his constituents with the utmost dedication, but he also inspired and worked with ge...
Post a Comment
Read more