The comments made by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
The best thing Liz Truss could do for economic stability now is resign. Her decisions have crashed the economy and heaped misery on people already struggling with a cost of living crisis.
The only decent thing for Tory MPs to do now is call time on her govt and allow an election
The speech made by Lucy Powell, the Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 13 October 2022.
As family bills rocket as a result of the economic crisis made in Downing Street Labour is today calling on the government and Ofcom to stop a broadband bombshell hitting families and firms with a three-point plan to reign in expected broadband price increases and ease the cost of living crisis.
Ofcom reports that nearly a third of households (8 million households) are having problems paying for their broadband, phone and streaming bills, double the number last year, and the highest since their records began. In a recent Lloyds Bank survey, 26 per cent of adults not using the internet in the past three months gave “it’s too expensive” as a reason. At the same time, 97 percent of eligible low-income families are currently missing out on a social tariff. Meanwhile, it has been reported that broadband firms are in line for a £1.7 billion windfall as a result of above inflation price rises.
Labour is calling for:
1) A reversal of changes the government made in 2019 which allowed regulated wholesale prices to rise with CPI rather than costs, so that telecoms wholesalers and internet service providers don’t get a windfall from sky high inflation whilst families and firms struggle to pay their bills.
2) Ofcom to investigate and take action to strengthen consumer protections including taking action on mid contract price rises, early termination costs for social tariff customers, and loyalty penalties where long term customers pay more than new customers.
3) An industry wide social tariff for low-income families. Industry including wholesalers like Openreach, must work with Ofcom and consumer groups to develop a mandatory well-advertised broadband social tariff for low-income families, or the Party will set and legislate for one in government.
Broadband is the newest utility, an essential for everyday life, not a luxury. Yet the Conservative cost of living crisis means that many families are finding internet access increasingly unaffordable, or impossible. Without access to the online world, children can’t do homework, parents can’t access the labour market, social security, or the best rates for services or goods, and grandparents can’t stay in touch face to face with family over distances.
Broadband wholesale price increases used to be capped at costs with prices stable over many years. However, in 2019, the government changed regulation so the price of existing Openreach networks could increase in line with CPI inflation instead. Wholesale prices for 2023 will be set this October with inflation estimated to reach a peak of 13 percent. As a result it has been reported that broadband bills could increase by a quarter.
Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:
“Internet access is a necessity not a luxury, yet the economic crisis made in Downing Street is making it increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet and stay connected.
“Our three-point plan will ease the broadband bombshell facing families and firms, at a time when they are already facing eye watering energy bills, and mortgage and rent increases. Whilst the Conservatives crash our economy, Labour will ensure accessing and connecting to digital infrastructure powers growth across our economy to ensure people and places aren’t left behind.”
In her Labour Conference speech Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lucy Powell pledged a new settlement for the digital age, building on our digital infrastructure to make Britain one of the most connected nations in the world for gigabit broadband, and industrial 5G.
The comments made by Caoimhe Archibald, Sinn Fein’s Economic Spokesperson, on 14 October 2022.
The Tories are now on their fourth Chancellor in four months as the fall-out of the reckless ‘mini-budget’ has resulted in Kwasi Kwarteng getting the sack.
For the past three weeks since the announcement of the ‘mini-budget’ there has been utter chaos which will punish ordinary workers, families and businesses by pushing up mortgages and hiking business borrowing costs.
It has been clear for some time that Liz Truss and the Tory government needs to scrap this plan, end their shameless policy of lining the pockets of the rich and halt the attack on our public services.
Instead, they should support workers, families and small businesses who are struggling and introduce a windfall tax to cut the eye-watering profits of the big energy corporations.
The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 14 October 2022.
Changing the Chancellor doesn’t undo the damage made in Downing Street.
Liz Truss’ reckless approach has crashed the economy, causing mortgages to skyrocket, and has undermined Britain’s standing on the world stage.
We need a change in government.
With my leadership, Labour will secure Britain’s economy and get us out of this mess.
The comments made by Alastair Campbell on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
I know we are talking small sums compared to the many billions spaffed on extra borrowing costs, not to mention the Covid billions wasted and lost to incompetence and corruption. But another consequence of the constant ministerial merry go round under Johnson and Truss is the continuing cost to the public purse after these useless charlatans lose their jobs. Johnson gets a huge PM allowance for life. They get pay-offs/pensions that rise because they have been “ministers.” The system has to be changed. Incompetence cannot keep being rewarded
The comments made by Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 14 October 2022.
Congratulations to my friend Jeremy Hunt on becoming Chancellor. He is a successful businessman, a diligent and committed public servant and a good man. I’m looking forward to working with him, delivering on this Government’s promise to make a real difference to peoples lives.
The comments made by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
Throwing out one bad apple in Kwarteng doesn’t undo damage that an entirely rotten tree of a Liz Truss Govt has done to economy, international relations, natural environment & so much more, after barely 40 days in office.
We didn’t vote for this – we need a #GeneralElectionNow.
The comments made by Jeremy Corbyn, the Independent MP for Islington North, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
As Liz Truss sacks Kwasi Kwarteng for implementing her own economic policies, millions of people are still waiting for a plan to tackle the cost-of-living emergency.
It doesn’t matter how many Chancellors they get through, this Tory government is rotten to its very core.
The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 14 October 2022.
This humiliating u-turn is necessary – but the real damage has already been done.
This is a Tory crisis, made in Downing Street.
It won’t be forgiven or forgotten.
Only a Labour government has the credibility and authority to fix this mess.
The letter sent by Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, to Kwasi Kwarteng, on 14 October 2022.
