Patrick Harvie: It’s time to cut the Tory crap
The cost of living crisis is a scandal entirely of the Tories' making, and they must be held to account for their reckless actions, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said.
Earlier this week Ofgem announced that the energy price cap would rise by a staggering 54%, a move that will throw many people already struggling with household costs into poverty. [1]
For many households who are already reeling from the £20 per week cut to universal credit and bracing themselves for a 10% national insurance rise, the energy bills increase is simply unaffordable, and the Chancellor’s move to spread the costs over future bills is entirely insufficient.
Recent analysis by Carbon Brief shows that Tory measures to cut the “green crap” have added £2.5 billion to energy bills over the last decade.
Commenting, Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“The Tory cost of living crisis is hitting households hard, but Boris Johnson’s government has been too busy dealing with sleaze and scandal to focus its attention on helping those most in need.
“The crisis is one entirely of the Tories' own making. The cruel decision to slash universal credit by over £1000 per year has had a devastating impact on those who were in receipt of the support. This callous decision has already forced many to choose between heating their homes or feeding their families.
“The decision to hike national insurance is another which will hit lower earning workers hardest. There’s no doubt that coming out of the pandemic more investment is needed in health and social care, but a levy on the companies that have made record profits during the last two years would have been a far fairer way to deliver the necessary funds.
“Analysis shows that the decision by David Cameron to “cut the green crap,” as he so colourfully put it, has added £2.5 billion to energy bills. This has led to an overreliance on gas to heat homes and a failure to properly invest in renewable energy and home insulation. I am pleased that with Greens in government here in Scotland we’re seeing action to address these longstanding issues.
“But billpayers are faced with a rise in the energy price cap of 54% now, which is simply unaffordable for many people. Rishi Sunak’s scheme to spread the cost over future bills does nothing to deal with affordability and ignores the fact that gas prices are likely to remain high for the foreseeable future.
“It’s clear that in Scotland more and more people are reaching the conclusion that it’s time to cut the Tory crap and put our future in our own hands. With independence Scotland can build a fairer, greener future. Never again would we be saddled with a government we haven’t voted for heaping hardship and misery at our door.”