News last week that Labour had taken a 15-point poll lead, biggest since 2013, may have surprised some but there’s a simple explanation. People have spent the hot summer relieved at not having to think how they’ll cope when winter comes. Later this week Ofgem, the regulator supposed to help consumers, will announce a secondContinue reading Government feeling heat
The Queen’s Speech sets out government plans for the next 12 months. My constituents tell me the issues of greatest concern are: cost of living; energy prices; childcare costs; elderly care; lack of neighbourhood police; education. There’s no action on childcare costs despite its impact on employment and family budgets and no plan for energyContinue reading Vital issues are ignored
This year only one of 16 suppliers, reviewed for the Which Energy Survey, received a Recommended Provider award. That means only one achieved the standards and consideration for consumers that might be expected. I’m not that surprised, given recent experiences I’ve had while attempting to contact the company that came bottom of the league. RecommendedContinue reading Energy firms falling short
Steve McCabe MP for Birmingham Selly Oak has shared his concerns that the energy price cap, announced today, will see energy bills soar by 54% from April 1st. Labour has expressed concern that the government’s mismanagement of Britain’s energy sector, for the past ten years, is a major factor in skyrocketing prices. Dozens of energyContinue reading Birmingham MP backs Labour’s plans to lower soaring energy bills
As we look to the New Year, I doubt the government is short on advice for dealing with the many problems we face. The Prime Minister isn’t exactly entering the year in a blaze of glory. He’s alienated his own MPs, fallen out with the voters and is beginning to look like a loser asContinue reading Scrapping VAT on fuel bills in winter would be huge benefit to families
The pace of technology over the last 20 years has been phenomenal and has certainly changed our lives. Can we now use technology to help with environmental problems or is there a ‘hair shirt’ mentality about climate change which means it’s always about what you must give up? I’m fed up listening to people, whoContinue reading A new ERA of solutions
Steve McCabe MP has called a Government decision to raise the energy price cap at the very time when unemployment is set to soar as ‘ratcheting up not levelling up.’ Today Ofgem announced the energy price cap will return to pre-pandemic levels on 1 April 2021, putting thousands of households at risk of fuel poverty. The most recent GovernmentContinue reading Birmingham MP Condemns Ratcheting up of Energy Bills as Unemployment Soars
Steve McCabe MP has slammed the Government’s failing smart meters programme as a damning report from the National Audit Office published today shows the Government won’t meet its target of installing smart meters in every home by 2020, the cost of the programme is spiralling out of control putting up household energy bills, and ministers have no way of knowing whether any forecast industry savings will ever be passed on to the consumer.
With winter upon us, Steve McCabe MP, Birmingham Selly Oak has called on his constituents to ensure they are taking advantage of free help and support with energy bills.
Continue reading Steve McCabe MP urges his constituents to ‘Get Ready for Winter’
Both the Coalition and the Cameron government rather quickly lost their appetites for a coherent and enthusiastic energy policy that could address high costs and the poor energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock. The decision to completely scrap the Department for Energy and Climate Change suggests that Theresa May’s government is as unlikely as its immediate predecessors to tackle such matters. Many feel they ought to get on and publish the long overdue Bonfield Review which offers a crumb of comfort for those concerned about the confused state of government energy policy.
Continue reading Where is the Bonfield Review? – The Tories are failing on energy policy
