Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has branded Liz Truss’ cost of living plans “shameful” as Labour analysis revealed 4 million families would be left in the cold by the Tory frontrunner’s policy.
Under Truss’ plans a couple living outside London, both working full-time and earning the average wage with one child will not be eligible for any additional cost of living support. It means almost four million families would miss out.
There are almost 100 areas where families on an average wage will lose out under Truss’ plans, including Tameside – part of which Gwynne represents.
Gwynne’s criticism comes as Labour revealed that its fully-costed plan to freeze energy bills this winter would save someone on the minimum wage more than £40 a week across Denton and Reddish.
Labour’s plan would prevent the energy price cap rising, meaning people would not pay a penny more this winter. It would be paid for from the record profits made by oil and gas giants. The package, first announced by Labour two weeks ago, would also reduce energy demand and lower bills in the longer term by insulating 19 million homes across the country over the next decade through Labour’s Warm Homes Plan.
The Tory leadership election will come to a close on the 5th of September, with Truss widely expected to beat her opponent Rishi Sunak and succeed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“The fact that 4 million families will lose out under Liz Truss’ cost of living plan is shameful. In October, the average bill will reach £3,459 a year, plunging millions of people into fuel poverty practically overnight.
“In times of crisis, Governments step up, but Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak don’t seem to grasp how serious this crisis is. They’re content to just stick their fingers in their ears and hope that no one notices that they don’t have a plan. It’s unforgiveable.
“Labour is the only party serious about tackling this crisis. It’s time to freeze energy bills, give people a Genuine Living Wage and build energy resilience for the future.”
Rachel Reeves, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer added:
“Under the Conservatives’ watch, the energy crisis and spiralled out of control and now more households than ever are facing soaring bills they’ll struggle to cover.
“People deserve a government that is on their side, one that is ready to take the action needed now to meet the scale of this national emergency. Instead, they have one willing to leave millions of families out in the cold.
“With Labour’s plan saving an average earner over £40 a week this winter, the government should get behind it and take action to stop the energy price cap rising.”