Welsh Conservatives Hideously Out-Of-Touch On Cost-Of-Living Crisis

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused Welsh Conservative MPs of being “hideously out of touch” with the public on the cost-of-living crisis, including the rapid rise in energy bills.

The accusation comes as polling from Savanta ComRes has found 75 per cent of Conservative Party voters would back a new windfall tax on oil and gas companies to fund households struggling to afford rising energy prices.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

“With the general public and Conservative Party voters both heavily in favour of Liberal Democrat plans for a Robin Hood Tax on global oil and gas companies to fund support programmes for those struggling to pay their energy bills this winter, it is astonishing Welsh Conservative MPs continue to be so hideously out-of-touch with the public.

“Many of the areas set to be worst hit by rising energy bills have Conservative MPs including Montgomeryshire, Brecon & Radnorshire, Ynys Mon, Aberconwy, Preseli Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

“Some like Fay Jones MP have even been as out of touch as to claim “a few quid” isn’t important, despite the fact this can make the difference between having to choose whether to eat or stay warm for many families across the worst affected areas of Wales, including in her seat of Brecon & Radnorshire where 17% of households live in fuel poverty.

“With 11/13 Welsh Conservative MPs voting against reducing VAT on energy bills last week (something which Vote Leave stated leaving the EU would allow us to do), the Party clearly needs to examine their priorities.

“Oil and gas companies are making the largest profits they have made in years, yet Welsh Conservative MPs seem to care more about protecting the profits of these global giants than they do about making sure their constituents don’t fall into poverty.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a Robin Hood tax on oil and gas giants while supporting the doubling and expansion of the warm home discount scheme and the doubling of winter fuel payments.”