Parliament’s Houses of Commons has been occupied by protesters demonstrating against rising energy costs.
As tourists and guests, more than thirty activists from Greenpeace and Fuel Poverty Action entered the Palace of Westminster.
More than thirty Greenpeace and Fuel Poverty Action protestors entered the Palace of Westminster under the guise of tourists and guests.
The campaigners then linked arms in the central lobby of parliament, read testimony from individuals struggling to pay their bills, and unfurled a banner saying “Chaos costs lives,” according to their respective organizations.
They urge the incoming prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to “stop the political instability” and “address the fuel poverty crisis.”
The activists urged him to adopt “a proper windfall tax on fossil fuels, improved social assistance, and home insulation.”
The police did not attempt to relocate the demonstrators, and after they read several statements, they left freely.
Jon Craig, the chief political correspondent for Sky, stated that the Greenpeace demonstration was “finished” and the central lobby had been “reclaimed.”
The groups claim the activists, backed by Disabled People Against Cuts, are demanding the new prime minister “puts the welfare of the British people ahead of the profits of fossil fuel companies by properly taxing oil and gas profits and launching a nationwide home insulation program to combat fuel poverty.”
Fuel Poverty Action and Disabled People Against Cuts are also demanding energy for all – a universal, free band of energy that covers the essentials, such as keeping warm and maintaining light.
The new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said on October 17 that the two-year energy price freeze for all households will now last for only six months. Campaigners have warned that this will result in a greater “cliff edge” for people.
He disclosed that the universal energy price guarantee will expire in April 2019, with the government undertaking a review to determine how to sustain bills thereafter.
The energy support scheme for households was established by the government of Liz Truss at the beginning of last month to limit the unit cost of energy so that a typical household will pay no more than £2,500 per year.
However, consumers may end up spending more if, for instance, they have a larger household, use more energy than usual, or have inadequate home insulation.
Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, stated, “Rishi Sunak should have realized by now the enormous error he made by obstructing plans for warmer houses and failing to adequately charge fossil fuel firms.
People require permanently lower costs and a safe climate, which necessitates more renewable energy, more financial support, a nationwide street-by-street insulation program, and a proper tax on energy profiteers to fund it.
Fuel Poverty Action’s Ruth London urged support for their “energy for all” proposal, which would provide each household with sufficient free energy to cover essentials such as heating, cooking, and lighting, paid for by windfall taxes, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and higher prices for excessive energy consumption.
