Members of Unite have gathered today. The demonstration is part of the ongoing Unite4Energy for All campaign, calling for public ownership of energy distribution networks and guarantees on energy prices. Campaigners are highlighting the impact of this week's price cap increase.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Today we're finding ourselves in a situation where energy bills are going to go up by 10% today.
00:06For everyone, average 10%.
00:08They're going to go up from £1,500 a year to £1,750 a year.
00:13It's going to have a big impact on people.
00:15We want to draw people's attention to that and we feel that there's a need to protest
00:20and stop the rise in energy prices.
00:24Protesters today are focusing on the increase in energy prices
00:28said to impact millions of households.
00:31Campaigners argue that the current system leaves many vulnerable,
00:34forcing families to choose between basic needs like heating and eating.
00:40The energy companies have made £400bn since 2020.
00:45Prices have gone up by 65% since 2020.
00:49We need to be doing something.
00:51The government either has to strengthen the Ofgem,
00:55but personally I think they need to think much more about restructuring the energy industry
00:59and taking it back into public ownership.
01:04The government, however, has stated that it remains committed to helping the most vulnerable
01:08through schemes like the energy price guarantee and winter fuel payments.
01:13They state that changes will focus assistance on pensioners receiving pension credit
01:17or other means-tested benefits.
01:20Officials maintain that these changes are necessary to balance public spending
01:25while ensuring that those in the greatest need continue to receive support.
01:32A lot of people now are going to find themselves having to wear extra clothes in the evening.
01:38I've been told they won't cook.
01:40They won't cook because the ovens consume so much energy.
01:44What they'll do is they'll eat cold food.
01:46And what's going to happen is people are going to be sitting in the dark.
01:49We've got a situation here where people's lives are going to be completely transformed
01:53over the next few years because they simply can't afford to turn energy on.