12th September 2022: A week in Parliament
/Liz Truss
After sitting on their hands all summer, while real people and businesses needed assistance, we eventually saw Liz Truss take over from Boris Johnson to become the new Tory Leader and Prime Minister of the UK. I have concerns that Truss will be a weak leader, in that, she won’t be able to control the back benches of her own party. I also worry that she is too much of a free marketeer. She has co-authored a book (Britannia Unchained) with several Tory peers, including new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, where she slates the work ethic of the British public. This is not a good premise for someone leading one of the most unequal countries in Europe and I fear under her premiership, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. This is personified through her tax cut pledge which will save the highest earners £1,800 per year meanwhile low earners are set to save just £7.60 per year.
Cost of Living
Despite Parliament being on recess, my office has been inundated with enquiries regarding the current cost of living crisis.
It is something I have raised for some time in the Chamber but it is unsettling to see it eventually play out and the detrimental effects it is having on constituents and businesses (big and small) throughout Kilmarnock and Loudoun.
A few weeks ago I was joined by SNP Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford MP, as we visited Brownings the Bakers and Utopia Computers in the constituency and heard first-hand of the consequences for these businesses. I raised Brownings' case in the House back in March where their running costs were set to rise from £4,000 per week to a staggering £11,000 per week. Meanwhile, Utopia’s bills were set to skyrocket from £2,000 per year to £9,000.
Although it is somewhat welcome the energy price will be capped at £2,500, considering what it could have risen to, it is still completely unaffordable for many households. I intervened on her energy update as I raised the concern that at this moment in time there are 6.5 million fuel-poor households in the UK, with the cap now at £2,500, I asked how many more will be plunged into fuel poverty – needless to say, this could not be answered. The sad reality is that the numbers in fuel poverty have almost doubled in recent years and a staggering 7 million households will be deemed to be in fuel poverty this winter.
I will continue to fight this injustice and I advise any constituents struggling with fuel costs should get in touch with my office or speak to the energy advisors at East Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau.
Parliament Suspended
Due to the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II, parliament was recalled to sit on Friday and Saturday. I was already back in the constituency when the news came through that Her Majesty had passed away, therefore, I had to travel back down to Westminster on Friday morning. Now as a result of the weekend sitting, parliament has been suspended for a period of 10-days to mourn the death of Her Majesty. During this time elected Members will be keeping a lower social media profile and parliamentary business will not go ahead. However, my office remains open for any constituency casework.
