It is estimated that 5.4 million homes in Britain suffer from fuel poverty, and this figure is set to rise over the winter. Fuel has always been relatively expensive for modern families, but never more so than now when the credit crunch has sunk in. With families trying to cut spending, it is conceivable that there will be families this winter trying to survive with no heating. However, the fear is for the elderly and families who have new babies.

Such families need a fuel benefit to alleviate them from fuel poverty. Gordon Brown in refusing this measure as a serious option is showing himself to be out of touch with modern Britain.

There has been an estimated £2.5bn rise in profits for the big six electricity firms since 2003 (1) at the public’s expense. The government has held negotiations with the big suppliers in Britain, and a £50-£100 per head in a household benefit provided for by the companies was conveyed as an idea, but the companies, such as Shell and Npower, rejected such a deal. Instead they suggest households should invest in insulation. Brown should not allow companies dictate the future of British families! The one off windfall tax would be calculated on the basis of what each company earns and will not damage their profits too much.

(1)http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7582267.stm

Whilst these companies are rolling in the profits, families are getting poorer due to the rising cost of fuel. Lindsay Hoyle MP called Ofgem the ‘toothless tiger’ as it failed to do its job in offsetting the price of fuel for such families. The government should now make up for Ofgem’s failings and force the large, lucrative fuel suppliers, like BP and E.On to cough up.