I’ve spent over 10 years as a volunteer campaigning with Fuel Poverty Action, desperately trying to draw attention to the stress and fear ordinary people have to deal with because of energy insecurity.
In all those years, I’ve never seen things get as bad as they are now. Skyrocketing energy bills are at the absolute heart of this cost-of-living crisis. With an estimated seven million households across Britain in fuel poverty this winter, the scale of this crisis is terrifying.
Fuel Poverty Action, together with Greenpeace UK, took action in parliament. We took copies of energy bills collected from all over the country to the Central Lobby of Parliament. Because we refuse to continue to be ignored by this chaotic government – even if that means I might’ve been in jail by the time you read this.
Political leaders are so focused on each other, but they should be focusing on the energy crisis and unaffordable bills
The Central Lobby has a long tradition of hosting protests, and I’ve been here before. As you walk in, it’s impossible not to notice the warm glow of the chandeliers’ lights reflecting against the gilded, ornate walls. It’s a warm glow that’s missing from all too many UK homes right now.
Above the chandelier is a grand dome that creates a powerful acoustic effect that I remember clearly from the first time I protested in this room. The irony is not lost on me that this is quite literally an echo chamber. Today, more than ever, the attention of our political leaders is on each other and not where it needs to be: on the cost of living crisis and the people facing unaffordable energy bills.