Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Torbay Weekly and you can read the latest edition (Published on Thursday 8th September 2022) below:
This Week
They say a week is a long time in politics and this week will seem a very long one.
As I write this column Boris Johnson is still Prime Minister, yet by the time you read it he will have left office and a new ministerial team will be in place. There are plenty of issues in the new Prime Minister’s in-tray, including the cost-of-living crisis, pressures on our NHS and care services, the ongoing issues in the Channel with small boat crossings and providing the support Ukraine needs to achieve victory.
Regardless of whether anyone in the Conservative Party backed Liz or Rishi we now need to focus our efforts as a united team on the issues facing our nation. With Parliament back and the party conference season approaching, the next fortnight needs to be about action and making decisions, it’s what we were elected to do.
Energy
Over the last week I have been hearing from businesses and residents faced with the prospect of substantial increases in their energy bills over the coming weeks.
Whilst up to £1,200 of support is already being made available to low-income households in our bay it is clear more action is needed. The rise in the energy cap for household bills is eyewatering, yet business energy costs are rising even further putting hundreds of jobs at risk. Some in our tourism and manufacturing sectors are facing gas bills going up a staggering 1000%, whilst electricity costs treble, threatening to put them out of business for good.
Yet the situation is not dissimilar to the one faced two years ago, many viable businesses in our bay faced potential ruin as their trade disappeared due to Covid arriving. Even before the lockdown many stopped using pubs and restaurants meaning a package of financial support was needed to ensure they could get through Covid and be ready to bounce back once more normal times returned.
The current surge in gas and electricity prices does not reflect what will be the long-term position, it is a price shock in reaction to the attack on Ukraine. Already other sources of supply, such as the North Sea and Middle East, are reacting by upping production which will moderate prices. This is not about subsidies for businesses which are losing money, but putting in place measures to ensure otherwise viable companies can get through this period to a more normal time in the energy markets.
My message to ministerial colleagues has been we need a major intervention to ensure the short-term shock in energy prices does not become a long term hit for the economy.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 9th September 10am till 12Noon at Torquay Library, Lymington Road, Torquay TQ1 3DT and Saturday 17th September 11am till 1pm at Paignton Library, Great Western Rd, Paignton TQ4 5AG
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with, rather than a wider policy debate. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.
