Author: Stuart Bretherton

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People nationwide Unite 4 Energy For All

Photo: Jess Hurd

On Wednesday 6th March, the day of the final budget announcement before a General Election, groups including Unite Community, National Pensioners Convention, Medact, Homes For All, DPAC, Friends of the Earth and more joined together in support of #EnergyForAll!

Nearly a year on from the launch of our Manifesto, a diverse coalition are actively pointing to our demand as the solution to the energy price crisis.

The day kicked off with a ‘Cold Homes Kill’ banner drop during the morning rush hour in Chesterfield. Protestors caught the attention of passengers at Birmingham New Street Station, with a die-in and mock funeral processions passed through Manchester and Leeds city centres. Locals held demos and outreach stalls across towns and cities in England, Scotland and Wales. One of the largest demos across the country took place in Westminster itself as the Spring Budget was announced. The crowd was addressed by MPs including Zahra Sultana.

Check out media coverage from The Canary and the Morning Star.

And share social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Our largest mobilisation ever!

At the beginning of December, over 30 events took place across the UK demanding an end to fuel poverty!

Warm Ups took place at offices of three of the big five UK energy companies, in three different nations. Unite Community held Warm Ups and community outreach stalls in shopping centres, markets and town centres from Southend-on-Sea to the Isle of Arran!

For more detail, read this fantastic roundup from The Canary reporting from inside a Warm Up in The Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley.

We knew that one weekend of action would not be enough to win energy justice. But our pressure has been felt with progress on some of our demands.

Forced prepayment meters were due to resume in November, but Ofgem has been forced to delay the restart until 2024. And Ofgem is finally agreeing to review its unfair standing charges. We won’t stop fighting to permanently ban forced PPMs and abolish standing charges.

Join us and take action through Get Involved – Energy For All.

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#EnergyForAll in Parliament

On July 4th, around 30 MPs from parties including Conservatives, Labour, SNP and Liberal Democrats attended our Energy For All Manifesto Parliamentary Launch.

12 new MPs signed the Manifesto there with more doing so since, bringing our total to over 25 MPs! Others have agreed to follow ups or meetings about elements of Energy For All or other fuel poverty issues we campaign on.

This event marked a huge first step towards broadening parliamentary support for an Energy Pricing Revolution. On the road to next year’s General Election, we will continue to lobby MPs and pressure parties to adopt these crucial measures to bring down bills for good.

On the eve of our parliamentary launch, we surpassed 200 signatures on the Manifesto. War on Want is the latest organisation to add it’s name to our list of supporters and watch 350.org‘s explainer video on why we need #EnergyForAll.

You can help build support for this demand at a grassroots level by taking a motion to your trade union branch.

Help us take our campaign to the next level. Donate now!

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The Energy Pricing Revolution hits Westminster

Campaigners marching past parliament with an Energy For All banner and petition box

On July 4th, we’re taking our #EnergyForAll Manifesto to Parliament.

We need your help to ensure that MPs of all parties hear about our launch event and the demand for Energy For All!

Ask your MP to attend our Manifesto launch and sign in support of our demand for a cheaper, greener and fairer energy pricing system! Click here.

Based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

You can also write to your devolved parliamentary representatives to ask them to add their name in support of the Manifesto! Click here.

Our Manifesto has been signed by over 150 organisations, community groups, businesses and elected officials so far.

Let’s keep that growing to build as much pressure as possible on MPs and parties to support. Take the Manifesto to your local community group, councillor’s surgery or union branch using our model motion and sign here.

You can read the full content of our Manifesto and view our full list of supporters at energyforall.org.uk.

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Our Manifesto

On 23rd March, we launched a Manifesto for Energy For All. The Manifesto promises an Energy Pricing Revolution for a cheaper, greener and fairer energy pricing system to meet everyone’s needs.

Organisations, community groups, trade unions and more can sign to support. And as individuals you can email your MP asking them to sign!

See the list of groups that have signed so far. And watch the launch event with speakers including Ruth London, John McDonnell MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP, Paula Peters, Ian Hodson and Indigo Rumbelow.

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Energy For All Manifesto Launch!

Join us this Thursday 23rd March 6.30 – 7.45pm for the online launch of our Manifesto!

Speakers to include Clive Lewis MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Anne McLaughlin MP and John McDonnell MP. Alongside Ian Hodson of Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, Mia Watanabe from the Warm This Winter Coalition, Paula Peters from DPAC, Indigo Rumbelow of Just Stop Oil and others.

We call on organisations, trade and tenants unions, community and faith groups, MPs, local authorities and distinguished individuals to sign in support of our Manifesto.

Email your MP asking them to do so now!

Join with groups including:

  • New Economics Foundation
  • End Fuel Poverty Coalition
  • Public and Commercial Services Union
  • Debt Justice
  • Disabled People Against Cuts
  • Don’t Pay
  • Global Justice Now
  • Social Housing Action Campaign
  • Tax Justice UK
  • Tipping Point UK
  • Uplift
  • Just Stop Oil
  • ACORN the Union and Living Rent
  • Power to the People
  • Breakthrough Party
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A huge win on PPMs after 4 days of action!

Between Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd January, campaigners and locals came together in towns and cities across the UK to demand the UK Government #BanForcedPPMs and implement #EnergyForAll.

On the 19th, ONS released the excess winter deaths figures for 2021/22. We joined the National Pensioner’s Convention and others, holding our traditional vigil in Westminster to mark the date. Speeches were given by Lord Prem Sikka, John McDonnell MP, Jan Shortt (NPC General Secretary), Paula Peters (DPAC) and our own Ruth London. Following a minute’s silence, participants marched to Downing Street and laid a coffin at the gate.

On the same date, a similar vigil took place at Cardiff Central Square. Protesters also interrupted First Minister’s Questions in Edinburgh, challenging Nicola Sturgeon on prepayment meters.

On Saturday 21st, Warm-Ups organised by FPA, Don’t Pay and Fossil Free London took place at the Scottish Parliament, an EDF Call Centre in Exeter, the Museum of Liverpool, a Barclays Bank and department stores including John Lewis at Oxford Circus and Liberty of London.

Further demonstrations took place at Leicester Town Hall, a Shell garage in Cambridge and outside Octopus Energy Sales Hub in Birmingham!

We have succeeded in forcing the government to act! During the days of action, a crackdown was announced on energy companies forcing people onto prepayment meters. While we celebrate this success and reflect on the power of our collective action, we will continue to push the government to go further and implement an outright ban!

#BanForcedPPMs #EnergyForAll #ColdHomesKill #EndWinterDeaths

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✊ TAKE ACTION IN JANUARY!

On January 19th, the Office for National Statistics will announce the number of excess winter deaths last year. Fuel Poverty Action call on our partners and allies to join us taking action around this date.

Register to Take Action!

🕰 VIGILS

Around January 19th, hold a minute’s silence in your local area to commemorate those who’ve lost their lives as a result of fuel poverty. Invite friends, family, colleagues or comrades to join you in a public place and contact us on [email protected] so we can connect you with others near you. 

📍 In London join a ‘Funeral March’. Meet at George V Statue, Old Palace Yard, Westminster at 11.30am for speeches and a minute’s silence before moving to Downing St. Wear black and bring a white flower.

(Nearest accessible tube station Westminster, Jubilee Line. Buses 3, 11 or 253 to nearby.)

📍Cardiff – On 19th January, meet at 11am in Cardiff Central Square.

📍Brighton – On 20th January, meet at 10.30am at the Brighton War Memorial, Old Steine.

📍Leicester – On 21st January, meet 11am at Leicester Town Hall.

Bring placards saying – ‘Energy For All’, ‘Cold Homes Kill’, ‘End Winter Deaths’ and ‘BanForcedPPMs‘.

📱 TAKE ACTION DIGITALLY 

Sign and share the 38 Degrees petition calling on energy companies to stop forcing customers onto prepayment meters!

Use our template text to phone (020 7219 8497) or email ([email protected]) Grant Shapps’ office demanding the government #BanForcedPPMs.

🔥 WARM-UPS

On January 21st, organise or participate in a Warm-Up protest. Warm-Ups were started by Fuel Poverty Action on the principle that if we can’t afford to heat our homes, we have the right to go to any public building and keep warm there. See this guide to organising one.

Warm-Ups so far expected in:

  • Edinburgh – Meet at 9.50am outside Canongate Kirk.
  • Exeter – Meet 12pm at the bottom of Grenadier Road, EX1 3QN.
  • Liverpool – Meet 11.30am at Pier Head by the Ferry Terminal.
  • North London – Meet 12pm at Cavendish Square Gardens, W1G.
  • South London – Meet 12pm The Venue, 5-7 Middle Street, Croydon.
  • Birmingham (Jan 22nd) – Meet 11am outside Octopus Energy Sales Hub.

Contact [email protected] if you’re interested in Warm-Ups.

📢 OUR DEMANDS

We demand a government ban on enforced switching to prepayment meters and the implementation of Energy For All.

💻 MEDIA PACK

Use our template press release guide to amplify your Vigil or Warm-Up.

See our social media pack to connect actions together online.

#BanForcedPPMs #EnergyForAll #ColdHomesKill #EndWinterDeaths

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National Day of Action on Fuel Poverty

As part of the Warm This Winter coalition’s National Day of Action, Fuel Poverty Action and allied groups conducted ‘Warm-Ups’ in towns and cities across the UK to demand Energy For All.

Over the weekend of December 3rd and 4th, Warm-Ups took place in Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Hastings, Islington, Liverpool, Oxford and Stratford.

Register: Upcoming Warm-Up training on Wednesday 21st December, 7pm.

Around 9.30am, Glasgowegians Warmed-Up outside Scottish Power HQ and sat down with blankets, sleeping bags and hot water bottles, singing and dancing, and chanting “Bills too high, pay too small, we need Energy For All!” to stay the morning chill away.

In London, Just Stop Oil supporters got cosy in beds and sofas in Harrods while FPA and Don’t Pay members warmed up in the British Museum.

In Hastings, locals entered a branch of Barclays bank – while others warmed up in shopping centres around the country.

You can support the campaign by emailing your MP to demand a Universal basic energy allowance and calling on the government to keep us #WarmThisWinter.

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Day of Action December 3rd!

On December 3rd we are participating in Warm This Winter’s Day of Action on fuel poverty!

In collaboration with Don’t Pay UK and other movements, we are conducting ‘Warm-Ups’ in towns and cities across the country. Warm-Ups are entering and occupying a space as a group to keep warm and demand action on fuel poverty.

Warm-Ups are being planned in:

  • Brighton – Meet 10.30 at Clarence Square
  • Bristol – Meet 12.00 Bond St
  • Glasgow – Meet 08.30 Glasgow Central
  • Hastings – Meet 12.30 207-8 Queens Road
  • Islington – Meet 12.00 Russell Square Gardens
  • Liverpool – Meet 12.00 Church Street
  • Manchester – Meet 13.00 Piccadilly Gardens
  • Oxford (Dec 4th) – Meet 12.00 Carfax Tower
  • Stratford – Meet 12.00 Stratford Westfield Stairs

And more!

Contact [email protected] to be connected with local organisers or if you’d like to organise your own.