In My View: Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea

The cost-of-living crisis in the UK is now an emergency for many households in Battersea.

The recent Ofgem announcement of an eye-watering 80 per cent increase in the energy price cap – to £3,549 from October – will have a devastating impact on those with the fewest options and the least money, especially older and disabled people.

Worryingly, more than half of households could be in fuel poverty.

This crisis is compounded by the fact that many people’s wages are not rising in line with inflation, which is over 10 per cent.

Workers are rightly demanding a decent pay rise, including postal workers, who are facing a real-terms pay cut even though Royal Mail paid out £400m to shareholders last year.

I heard first hand from them when I joined them on the picket line at Lavender Hill delivery office to express my support and solidarity.

Constituents have also shared their worries about the rise in energy costs and are unsure how they are going to make ends meet.

It is wrong that millions of families can’t afford to eat three meals a day or stay warm in winter while energy companies make £170billion in excess profits.

In my January column I wrote that ‘this Tory government’s approach of dither and delay is not enough.’

Seven months later, we have still not seen a genuine plan to help those most in need, even though the rate of inflation has doubled and the energy price cap has trebled this year.

The Government must act urgently to freeze bills and provide support to households, as the current economic package simply does not go far enough.

It is inexcusable and indefensible that they have been missing in action when we are dealing with an economic emergency.

Labour has outlined a support package for households with our £29 billion plan: freezing energy bills, ending the pre-payment disparity, increasing the windfall tax on oil and gas producers and closing loopholes.

This will save the typical family £1,000 now, get energy costs under control for the future and could reduce inflation by 4 per cent.

We also need viable options to help households, including social tariffs and bringing energy supply companies into public ownership.

Locally, Wandsworth council is offering emergency support grants, and, in partnership with Wandsworth Citizens’ Advice, is setting up a Cost of Living Hub to support residents.

But that will not be enough.

The only way to get through this crisis is if we stand up to exploitative employers, stand up to profiteers, and stand up to this Tory government.