Lib Dems "disappointed" at MPs failure to vote on Fuel Poverty Bill (Bridgwater and West Somerset Liberal Democrats)

Bridgwater and West Somerset Liberal Democrats <info@bawslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems "disappointed" at MPs failure to vote on Fuel Poverty Bill

March 24, 2009 9:00 AM

Theo Butt Philip, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgwater & West Somerset, has expressed his disappointment at Ian Liddell-Grainger's failure to turn up to the House of Commons and vote on the Fuel Poverty Bill last Friday (20th March 2009).

The Bill proposed putting a duty on the Government to deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home and end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters - generally the least well-off - paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

"This was a Bill which would have made a real and noticeable difference to the lives of many of the poorest people living in Bridgwater. According to Consumer Focus an estimated 7,531 households in the Bridgwater constituency live in fuel poverty.

"I am very disappointed that Ian Liddell-Grainger decided not to turn up and support this Bill.

"The people of Bridgwater were let down on Friday by and MP who has failed to take action to alleviate one of the biggest problems facing a large number of local people."

The Bill was supported by Consumer Focus, Disability Alliance, Age Concern England, Child Poverty Action Group, Help the Aged, Friends of the Earth, National Right to Fuel Campaign, Association for the Conservation of Energy, Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Sustainable Energy Partnership.

The Bill won the votes of the overwhelming majority of MPs present for the vote (89 in favour, 2 against) however it failed to get to the next stage because there were fewer than 100 MPs voting in favour.