Local Lib Dem campaigner John Loxley is calling for more support for people in Prettygate & Lexden to meet the growing cost of living crisis. He is distributing a survey to local residents to see how price rises are affecting them and what support they need.

The cost of living rose by 5.4% between December 2020 and December 2021. It is now at its highest rate for 10 years. With energy, fuel and food prices all rising – everyone in Prettygate & Lexden has been affected in one way or another:

• Household heating prices have soared since the Energy Price Cap was lifted in October. 15 million homes pay £139 more for their heating and this could increase further in the Spring.

• Supermarket food prices have risen by 1.1% – the biggest increase since the 2008 crash – while stock on the shelves is at its lowest point since 1983.

• Filling a tank of petrol is on average £12 more expensive than it was a year ago. Fuel is set to hit a record high in 2022.

This is a time when the Government should be giving people a helping hand – however the Conservatives are instead making life even harder. They have increased National Insurance, cut Universal Credit and capped Pension rises so they don’t keep pace with wage increases.

Instead the Conservatives are proposing a “loan” for £200 which all future energy customers would have to repay regardless of whether they received the £200 or not.

The Lib Dems would tackle the growing cost of living by doubling the Warm Homes Discount to cut bills, scrapping the unfair Tory National Insurance hike, forcing broadband providers to offer cheaper tariffs and imposing a windfall tax on mega-profits of oil and gas companies.

There is no issue more important than reducing poverty. Help us make that happen by filling in the survey today. You can complete John Loxley’s cost of living survey HERE