Kate Osamor MP
Shell’s Obscenely High Profits Expose a Broken Energy Sector This week Shell revealed profits of $5 billion in the second quarter of this year while British Gas revealed their profits in the same period increased by 889% to £969m even as households across the country struggle to pay heir bills. This revelation comes at a time when our planet is facing an escalating climate crisis, with wildfires ravaging Mediterranean countries and extreme heatwaves becoming more frequent in Europe. The fact that such immense profits are being generated from fossil fuels despite the urgent need to transition to renewable energy sources is not only morally reprehensible but also highlights the broken state of our energy sector. We need to take bold and decisive action to address the climate crisis and repair our broken energy sector. That means bringing our energy sector into public ownership. By establishing a publicly owned renewable energy generation company like Great British Energy, we can reinvest the profits in renewable energy initiatives and reduce the burden of energy costs on ordinary citizens. Polling results have shown that the public is overwhelmingly in favour of using the profits from a publicly-owned energy company to achieve several crucial goals. Firstly, we can use the revenue to lower energy bills, providing much-needed relief to families struggling with skyrocketing electricity and gas prices. Countries like France and Norway have already demonstrated successful models of capping price increases and supporting vulnerable households during energy crises. Secondly, investing in more green energy, such as wind and solar farms, will secure a sustainable future for generations to come. Countries like Norway and Denmark have shown that public ownership of renewable energy projects can be immensely successful in driving the transition away from fossil fuels. Furthermore, we can use the profits to retrofit and insulate homes, making them more energy-efficient and affordable to run. Switzerland’s example of using publicly-owned companies to install solar plants and heat pumps offers a blueprint for creating greener and more comfortable homes. Public ownership of renewable energy initiatives, like the proposed Great British Energy, will not only bring down bills for consumers but also pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future. I’m committed to championing these vital changes to protect our planet and ensure a better future for all. |
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Tory Homelessness Crisis Figures released this week show just how out of control our Homelessness crisis has become. stark reality is that 104,510 households were living in temporary accommodation by the end of March this year, marking the highest figure since records began in 1998. This represents a distressing 10% increase compared to the previous year, with 9,520 more households facing the hardships of unstable living conditions. Equally alarming is the fact that 131,370 children are also experiencing the uncertainty and instability of temporary accommodation, marking the highest figure on record. In Edmonton hundreds of families have been forced to live in hotels for months on end with Enfield Council no longer able to secure private rented accommodation. After decades in which Social Housing has been steadily sold off, 13 years of Tory failure has created what must now surely be considered a national emergency. The failure of Tories to build enough social housing has contributed significantly to the shortage of affordable and stable homes for families in need. This failure has left many vulnerable households at the mercy of the private rental market, where loss of a tenancy is the leading cause of homelessness. Furthermore, the government’s cuts to local authority funding and welfare benefits have deepened the crisis. By freezing the local housing allowance (LHA) at 2020 levels, they have denied much-needed support to those renting privately and struggling to meet their housing costs. This lack of financial assistance has forced many households into temporary accommodation, with hotels and B&Bs experiencing a significant surge in usage. Meanwhile the Renters Reform Bill, which would ban no-fault evictions, made no progress in parliament, leaving tenants vulnerable to eviction and contributing to the growing number of families facing homelessness. The time for the government’s empty promises and inaction on housing is over. We must invest in social housebuilding and ensure that families have secure, affordable homes. The Renters Reform Bill must be urgently pushed through parliament, and Housing Benefit must be unfrozen. Beyond this, the next Labour government must begin a mass programme of housing building, with a strong focus on Social Housing. If we did it in 1945 when the Countries economy was in a far worse state, we can do it in 2024. |
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Council Tax Support Enfield Councils prosed cut to Council Tax support is deeply concerning and this week I wrote to the Council Leader to express my concerns. The government’s 13 years of Tory austerity have put immense pressure on local authorities, forcing them to make difficult decisions. However, these proposed cuts could impact our most vulnerable families and individuals in Edmonton. The proposal to reduce the maximum discount to 50% and introduce changes to calculations on multiple non-dependent adults could place an unfair financial burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. We cannot afford a situation where the most vulnerable families in Edmonton are being chased by bailiffs for Council Tax debt. I understand the council’s intentions to align its support scheme with the London average and introduce a hardship fund of £1 million to assist those in need. Nevertheless, I have raised important questions about how this fund will be implemented to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are safeguarded and supported during these challenging times. If the Council do press ahead with this proposed cut they must rule out handing Council Debt over to private debt collectors in any case were the resident is claiming Council Tax support. This is the least that we can do to protect families who are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. |
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Thank you for taking the time to read my latest update, if you have any issues that you would like to raise directly with me then please do email edmontonconstituency@parliament.uk . I’m always happy to help whenever possible. Kind regards, Kate Osamor Member of Parliament for Edmonton |