Lib Dem two unite in condemning fuel poverty
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
MSP candidate, Molly Nolan, co-authored a letter with far north Liberal Democrat MP, Jamie Stone, demanding the Scottish Government act on fuel poverty.
In the letter, the two pointed out how the Scottish Government is still to publish its fuel poverty strategy report that was due in September 2020. Meanwhile, they said that Ofgem has announced it will increase its energy price cap without any adjustments made for those already living in fuel poverty.
Ms Nolan, the Lib Dem candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: "It's 2021 and plenty of folks I know live in fuel poverty. Many of them have old, creaking boilers they cannot afford to replace. Many homes need insulating. Plus, Highlanders pay more per kw of electricity. And what does the Scottish Govt decide to do? Delay its fuel poverty strategy.
"This is all at a time when Ofgem decides it's going to increase its price cap. The government must act. Ofgem must act. If they fail to, then they are responsible every time a Highlander must decide whether to feed their kid or put the heating on. It's not a decision someone should have to make in 2021, and it's certainly not a decision they should have to make when it's minus 15 degrees."
Their letter to First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, stated how 32 per cent of the Highlands is in fuel poverty compared to 21 per cent of the City of Edinburgh, according to the Scottish House Condition Survey. "That’s 35,000 Highland households in fuel poverty. 22,000 of those are in extreme fuel poverty," they wrote. "You missed an opportunity to start alleviating fuel poverty – it is unforgiveable."
After sending the letter, Mr Stone said: “It is shocking that in one of the coldest parts of the UK, pensioners and the vulnerable have to make the horrific decision of whether to keep the heating on and get into debt or switch it off and shiver in the bitter winter weather.
"The Scottish Government is morally bound to right the wrong of a fundamental unfairness of people being disadvantaged simply because of where they live. They are failing Highlanders by not taking fuel poverty seriously."
