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

28 Apr 2022 3 minute read
Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have demanded a rural cost of living rescue package, including a cap on heating oil prices to help struggling families who don’t have a mains gas supply.

The party warned that the UK Government is leaving rural communities “out in the cold” by refusing to help with soaring bills and is calling for the introduction of a series of measures to help those hardest hit be the energy crisis.

The party is calling for a cap on heating oil costs to support the estimated 243,100 Welsh properties off the gas grid and wants Westminster to 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 so far 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, meaning the cost of heating oil for the average household is expected to soar by between £700 to £1,700 this year.

Analysis by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has revealed five out of six of the areas 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%).

Stubborn

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.”


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The Original Mark
The Original Mark
1 year ago

Labour should pay attention, it’s not just the UK government that are ignoring rural communities.

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago

Major political parties of all persuasions ignore communities until we come to Election time. Then the bandwagons get rolled out and we get a spate of “caring” pronouncements. There is no collective will among politicians in Wales or the wider UK to ease the burden of this cost of living crisis. The token gestures are sickening when one considers what is wasted or given away to pet projects and well connected corporates. Suspend the green levy for a while especially as those globalist businesses are making profits anyway. Reduce VAT for a year or so, and take a bit more… Read more »

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