Leter to the media - Labour rent control proposals - March 2015 - Printable Version +- LIBERAL TALK (http://talk.liberal.org.uk) +--- Thread: Leter to the media - Labour rent control proposals - March 2015 (/showthread.php?tid=38) |
Leter to the media - Labour rent control proposals - March 2015 - ReadingLib - 12-31-2015 I see from recent media reports that The labour Party has again chosen to highlight its populist pledge to cap energy bills if it was to win the next general election, In fact it could be sensibly argued that the prices we pay for energy and the margins energy companies enjoy are not in fact excessive for any commercial business. The real issue is people inability to pay their bills in a country where business and government seem to have made a virtue out of not paying a living wage. There are indeed practical steps which could be taken by a more motivated energy regulator to encourage competition, prompt realisation of savings to customers when wholesale energy prices drop, as well as ensure energy companies tidy up their own act with inadequate  billing systems, poor customer service, and over complex tariffs. Earlier this year the Labour Party highlighted the fact that half of the households living in fuel poverty in our country are actually in employment, whilst there are over 1 million people in receipt of housing benefit  who are also in a job. As has been pointed out elsewhere, this level of benefit actually adds up to a unacknowledged subside to employers, who should be paying a living wage, and not relying on the state to keep their employee's in house and home using government tax receipt. The vast majority of people in receipt of working credits would dearly love to be able to pay their energy bills without having to fall back on the State. The real issue is the cost of living crisis in this country but his is of secondary concern to a Labour Party more interested in populist postulating than addressing the more pressing issues of social justice. |