MORE than 150 people signed a petition in Barnsley town centre last week – which will be sent to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – to end fuel poverty.
Pensioners and Unite Community members in Barnsley joined an End Fuel Poverty national day of action last Wednesday. It was part of a national campaign to coincide with Jeremy Hunt making his budget speech.
Shoppers were asked to stop and sign a card to Rishi Sunak calling on him to implement policies that will help all those suffering from fuel poverty.
Unite Community nationally is collecting these cards from campaigns all round the country to take them down to Downing Street.
More than 150 people signed the petition in the town centre.
George Arthur, from the Barnsley Retirees Action Group, said: “In just over an hour more than 150 people signed our cards to Rishi Sunak.
“We heard some heartbreaking stories of how people are suffering, unable to use gas and electricity to keep themselves warm.
“That’s not surprising when latest figures show around 40 per cent of households in the Barnsley East and Barnsley Central constituencies live in fuel poverty – over 34,000 people. The budget offered no hope to those shivering, unable to pay for adequate heating.
“We will be looking at further action in Barnsley and across the country to force some improvements for people.”
