Chair of the Isle of Wight Green Party is calling on the Island’s Conservative MP, Bob Seely, to reconsider his support for the levy on energy bills, which was announced by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, last week.
In a letter to the Island MP, Vix Lowthion says she believes the Government pledge announced last week will not provide support for families and households, but instead, will tie us all into a “Government-sanctioned scam” which we won’t finish paying back until 2027.
Paying back £200 regardless of whether you received discount
Vix explained,
“I’m not sure that you understand the terms on which bill payers will be forced to take out a £200 loan, added to our electricity bills without our permission this year. The Treasury plans involve us paying this back by £40 being added onto all our electric bills for the next five years – regardless of whether we received the support or not.
“For example, when my children leave home (hopefully in the next few years…) they will each be expected to pay back £40 a year, as well as myself. So as a family we could be paying back £120 a year until 2027 – even though we only received £200!”
Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, provides this two minute explainer.
A 54 per cent increase on our bills
Vix went on to ask,
“Why are you championing ordinary Islanders paying this extraordinary energy levy which will leave many of us out of pocket?
“In France, the government have capped the energy price increases to only 4 per cent – and yet in the UK we will see a whopping 54 per cent increase on our bills.”
Other ways to help Islanders
Vix goes on to set out examples of how she believes the Government can support Islanders instead,
“Why didn’t this government increase the Warm Homes Discount from £140 to £420 instead – which targets households on a low income?
“Why didn’t your government reverse the removal of £20 a week from Universal Credit for our most vulnerable families?
“Why have your government insisted on raising our National Insurance taxes from April this year – right at the time of high inflation, huge bills and the rising cost of living?
“Why aren’t your government investing more in clean, affordable and energy-secure renewable power from solar, wind and tides which we can benefit from regardless of the volatile international pricing and political situation?
“Where is the support for access to insultation to create warm homes at limited cost and end the outrageous waste of energy through our rooves and walls?”
Lowthion: You are supporting a scam
She finishes by saying,
“Instead you are supporting a loan which we have no choice to receive, and many of us will pay back more than we got.
“Frankly, you are supporting a scam. Please reconsider.”
If Vix receives a response from Bob, we’ll be happy to publish it here.
Council tax rebate
As part of the plans announced by Sunak last week following the predicted 54 per cent price rise of energy bills from April, he stated band A-D council tax payers would receive a £150 rebate on their bills.
The Local Government Chronicle has reported that senior finance figures question whether the Government have thought about the implementation of the scheme.
One Section 151 officer said the measures will add extra complexity, risk and cost for councils. Others say the rebate will cause complexity, risk and cost.
