Labour launches Christmas campaign to tackle fuel poverty

One in four Scottish households will spend Christmas in fuel poverty, according to a new campaign launched today by Scottish Labour.

The party will spend the festive season highlighting the issue, with members and activists set to distribute postcards of information which will ask for the public’s view on its policies.

Labour wants to take energy into public ownership and place a cap on energy prices to keep energy bills affordable.

The party also wants tougher targets to be enshrined in the forthcoming Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill, including:

  • A commitment to eradicate fuel poverty by 2040
  • A definition of fuel poverty that includes an uplift for rural communities
  • A minimum standard of energy efficiency in private rented sector housing
  • Labour shadow cabinet secretary for equalities, Pauline McNeill, said: “Scotland is an energy-rich country, yet over a quarter of households in Scotland are in fuel poverty.

    “In 2002, the last Labour-led Scottish government set a target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016, but years of inaction from the SNP means that target was missed.

    “In the run-up to Christmas, Labour will be highlighting our plans to ensure everyone has access to a warm home with affordable energy bills.

    “The next Labour governments at Holyrood and Westminster will take action to end the scandal of fuel poverty.”

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