Fuel Poverty and a Poverty of facts!

Posted By: Dale Mulgrew
Date Posted: 15/04/2009

I note that Councillor Ibrar Khan has been nominated for a RO Award. I would like to congratulate both him and the author of his entries. When challenged about a recent letter that he'd written to the Rochdale Observer by a senior councillor he replied - "What Letter?"



The latest is an attack increasing fuel costs at sheltered accomadation. He knows all to well that this Council are tied into an annual energy contract and like any consumer, we will re-evaluate when it comes to renewal and shop around to get possible deal for our residents. Councillor Khan further should know that his Labour Colleagues in Manchester, Salford, Tameside and other Labour-run authorities have done exactly the same. Councillor Khan talks about the fight to combat fuel poverty. Well, maybe he should have spoken to Jim Dobbin and Phil Woolas who failed to turn up to a recent debate in Parliament aimed at eradicating fuel poverty. I am more than proud that it was a LibDem MP who sponsored the debate - words and deeds in stark contrast to blatant ignorance.



The failure of Labour MPs to vote on this crucial issue leaves thousands of local people trapped in an unbelieveable dilemma. Janet Anderson, another local Labour MP spoke in the debate but couldn't be bothered to vote. This is despite the backing of organisations concerned with the elderly, poverty and the environment, including Age Concern, the Association for the Conservation of Energy, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, the Child Poverty Action Group, Consumer Focus, Disability Alliance, Friends of the Earth, Help the Aged and the National Right to Fuel Campaign.

The bill would have brought in two measures:

A major energy efficiency programme to ‘fuel poverty proof’ existing homes by bringing them up to the current energy efficiency levels enjoyed by modern homes
Social tariffs to limit vulnerable households’ exposure to high energy bills

I know that Paul Rowen evern made a special trip to London to vote on this vital issue. That is why I will take no lectures from Ibrar Khan or anyone else connected with Labour. I am pleased that our Lib Dem Council will reassess our energy contract when it comes up for renewal and have committed to passing any savings on.



In post after post on this website, Councillor Khan has shown an unwillingness to stick to the facts. Indeed we see a real poverty of facts and I think this deliberate attempt to mislead doesn't do democracy, Ibrar or Labour any good whatsoever.