Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(111,292 posts)
Sat Aug 27, 2022, 11:07 PM Aug 2022

Chancellor says people should cut energy use: 'There is war on our continent'



As a significant rise in the price of energy looms this winter, complicating the cost of living crisis, Nadhim Zahawi has acknowledged that the government needs to do more to support vulnerable families.

'What I'm looking at is how I can target that help for those people, not just to January, but we need to make sure we're resilient through next year,' said the chancellor.

Zahawi also suggested Britons should consider cutting down on energy use in light of the huge rise in bills they will face given the new energy price cap. Blaming Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the chancellor added it was 'a difficult time' given 'there is war on our continent'.


5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Chancellor says people should cut energy use: 'There is war on our continent' (Original Post) TexasTowelie Aug 2022 OP
Multi-millionaire with 5 houses says what? IcyPeas Aug 2022 #1
The Tories are as despicable as the GOP. Not a notion of capping OnDoutside Aug 2022 #2
This affects everything for the worst T_i_B Aug 2022 #3
I saw an article earlier about Germany's directives. They seem reasonable PortTack Aug 2022 #4
This is an utterly disgusting line, Emrys Aug 2022 #5

IcyPeas

(21,738 posts)
1. Multi-millionaire with 5 houses says what?
Sat Aug 27, 2022, 11:34 PM
Aug 2022
Nadhim Zahawi is one of the richest MPs. He and his wife Lana are reported to have a property empire worth more than £100m.

The couple own five homes reportedly worth £17 million, including three in London, one in Dubai, and another in Warwickshire.

As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Zahawi will be entitled a salary of around £71,673 a year.
....
In 2013, Mr Zahawi claimed £5,882 expenses for energy bills, including to heat his riding school stables and and yard manager’s mobile home.

He came under fire for this and was removed from chairing a meeting about unfair energy bills with the Citizens Advice.

However, Mr Zahawi said it was a mistake and said he had repaid the £4,875.87 overpayment.


https://archive.ph/XnLSi

OnDoutside

(19,906 posts)
2. The Tories are as despicable as the GOP. Not a notion of capping
Sun Aug 28, 2022, 12:43 AM
Aug 2022

the horrendous profits of the energy companies.

T_i_B

(14,734 posts)
3. This affects everything for the worst
Sun Aug 28, 2022, 01:28 AM
Aug 2022

It means that nobody has any disposable income, so tourism and hospitality will be very badly damaged due to loss of trade.

It's catastrophic for businesses as business energy costs are not capped and it takes a lot of electricity to manufacture goods, run a shop, distribute goods or undertake scientific research. Everything from steelmaking through to the voluntary sector is going to be absolutely crippled by this. All at a time when we've ruined our trading relationship with the rest of the world by leaving the EU

Government is also going to be very badly affected as energy costs are going to eat into budgets and force cuts to pay for electric costs..

And that's before we get onto what this means for households. This winter is going to be incredibly bad.

PortTack

(32,606 posts)
4. I saw an article earlier about Germany's directives. They seem reasonable
Sun Aug 28, 2022, 03:10 AM
Aug 2022

Heating temps 66 degrees
Keeping business doors closed at all times instead of standing open
Lighting for businesses will be off from 10p to 6a
No heating outdoor pools
Laundry in cold water only
There were some others too

Emrys

(7,187 posts)
5. This is an utterly disgusting line,
Sun Aug 28, 2022, 08:47 AM
Aug 2022

first trotted out by Johnson on one of the few occasions when he did what was supposed to be his job the other day.

Trying to capitalize on the war in Ukraine as a shield for the government's shortcomings is despicable. One hint is the fact that other European countries are facing the same challenges, but the UK is worst affected.

It doesn't help that Truss agreed to the rundown of gas storage, which has left us forced to import to sustain supplies rather than building up useful stockpiles for the winter.

It certainly doesn't help that the Tories' infatuation with private ownership of utilities means that the companies' stockholders get prize premiums off the backs of many of the rest of us who face astronomic bills, with the promise of more to come.

A windfall tax would be a short-term and only partial remedy, but the Tories are resistant even to that. Large-scale restructuring of our energy markets is urgently needed.

The electricity distribution firms that are struggling need to be told that since they're indicating their businesses are effectively uneconomic and borderline worthless, the harsh hand of the market means they must be taken into public ownership, which will relieve them of their burdens. Faced with that threat, they may yet find solutions that don't mean we have to endlessly bail them out while we face sitting hungry in the cold and dark.

But if they don't ...

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»United Kingdom»Chancellor says people sh...