Our local Labour MP failed to turn up for the Fuel Poverty bill last week. So residents in Durham have to struggle on with their fuel bills .

The Bill, which was proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath, would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters – generally the least well-off – paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

Campaign groups such as Consumer Focus and Age Concern have condemned the Government for blocking the Bill’s progress. Help the Aged have said that, “Millions of older people… will be devastated and dismayed by this result.

 

For our MP to not turn up for this debate is simply not on. More than 70% of Lib Dem MPs were there but only 7% of Labour MPs bothered to show up.