GLASGOW councillors have demanded the UK Government steps up its support for citizens struggling with the cost of living after it was revealed another 5000 children are expected to be thrust into poverty.
Councillors from the SNP, Greens and Labour came together to send a message to new Prime Minister Liz Truss that current help has been “insufficient” and urgent action is needed.
They want:
- Energy price cap rises reversed to October 2021 levels.
- The return of the £20 Universal Credit uplift from the pandemic, and for it to be doubled.
- Nationalisation of the ‘big five’ energy firms if they won’t commit to “ceasing the extraction of unfair profits”.
- A “real windfall tax” on corporations making “unjust profits”.
- An increase to Scotland’s block grant to allow fair pay increases for workers.
Council leader Susan Aitken said the Prime Minister’s planned interventions “do not go anywhere near far enough to provide relief” as she revealed an extra 106,000 households in Glasgow could face fuel poverty over the winter.
In response to a motion by Labour group leader George Redmond, Aitken said research by the Glasgow City Region intelligence hub indicates “at a conservative estimate, 5000 more children will be thrust into poverty in the coming months in this city”.
“An additional 106,000 households will suffer fuel poverty,” she added. “And the income of the poorest fifth of households will be outstripped by the rising cost of basic essentials, it will simply be impossible for them to pay their bills.
READ MORE: Scotland needs to do more on child poverty, charity says
“It’s really not possible to overstate how catastrophic this crisis is shaping up to be and so far at least it seems the new PM just doesn’t get it.”
A letter will be sent to the UK Government demanding “immediate actions to address this crisis” after Redmond’s motion, seconded by councillor Elaine Gallagher, of the Greens, passed with amendments from the SNP.
It condemned “exorbitant” increases to the energy price cap and “the opportunism of energy companies in taking advantage to increase charges across the board”.
Councillors also agreed to write to the Scottish Government to call for direct support to communities and more funding to help open community facilities over winter.
READ MORE: Scottish Child Payment 'should increase to mitigate Tory benefit policy'
Redmond said: “People are struggling right now in the city, even capping energy prices today means tens of thousands of households will face an impossible decision whether to turn on the heating or not this winter.”
Gallagher said: “The increasing costs, most urgently in electricity and gas bills, but also in rent, and foods and basic goods, are striking the poorest members of our community in far greater proportion to the richest."
She added: “We cannot allow people in our charge and care to die from lack of heating and the illnesses that come from un-liveable conditions. We cannot allow the people who we represent to have to choose between heating and eating. We cannot allow profiteers to enrich themselves over the lives of the people of Glasgow.”
The motion also noted strike action by council staff in response to an “unsatisfactory” pay offer, and welcomed a “new, more equitable pay deal”, which the council hopes will be accepted.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here