Mayor responds to Chancellor’s statement on new measures to tackle rising energy costs

26 May 2022

Responding to today's cost-of-living announcement by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:

“The Chancellor has finally recognised that there must be a response to the terrible cost-of-living crisis that more people in West Yorkshire and beyond are facing every day. 

“Assessments by the Trussell Trust show that food bank usage in our region is increasing, with people having to choose between heating and eating. And this shocking situation won’t improve any time soon. The energy price cap increase coming later this year means people’s energy bills will be going up yet again, with figures showing they have risen by an average of 119% over the past year*.

“So, it remains to be seen if the package announced today by Rishi Sunak goes far enough.

“I’m doing what I can to help with the current powers I have as Mayor. The plans to cap bus fares in West Yorkshire at £2 and the work with housing providers, to make hundreds of rented homes more energy efficient to bring down bills will help, but with food bank use escalating I know there’s more to do.

“Government needs to reverse cuts to Universal Credit as well as ensuring West Yorkshire has the funding and powers to invest this where we know it will have genuine impact.

“If the Government’s ambitions are to truly level up our communities here in West Yorkshire and ensure people can live good, fulfilling lives, then they must do more to support our communities to stop them falling into deprivation.”

*According to figures from energy regulator Ofgem