On Wednesday 2^nd April, MPs voted on Labour’s plans for an energy price freeze.   

Along with the rest of the Tories and some Lib Dems, our MP Simon Reevell voted against the plans, denying households in our area a saving of, on average £120 each.   

The Government say they oppose a price freeze because it isn’t workable. But, at least one of the big six suppliers has announced a freeze of their prices until 2016 and even says they agree with Labour’s plans!   

But we all know this isn’t the first time Simon Reevell has voted against making things easier for people in Dewsbury and the surrounding towns and villages.   

He’s voted for the bedroom tax, forcing those on the lowest incomes to pay more for their homes.   

He voted to raise VAT to 20% and to pass the responsibility of support for those in financial need, mostly disabled people or the homeless, onto local councils, while also voting to cut the amount of money available to give that support! 

But, when it’s come to those at the top, he doesn’t see a problem in voting for a tax cut for people earning more than £150,000.   

The cost of living crisis is affecting people right across the country and every week when I knock on doors or speak to people in the street, I hear stories about how people round here are really struggling as well.   

That’s why I’ll keep fighting and why I’m backing Labour’s plans freeze energy bills. We might not have got it through this time, but if we’re elected in 2015, we will.   

And not only that, but we’ll increase house building as well to bring more affordable good quality housing to local communities and we’ll bring in the jobs guarantee for young people out of work so that they get a helping hand they need right at the start of their careers. And we’ll make sure that everyone pays their fair share by introducing a tax on bankers’ bonuses and dropping the lowest rate of tax back down to 10p. 

Those are some of the things I think will make life easier for people round here and that’s what I’ll be championing over the next year and into the future.