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Fuel poverty campaigners stage ‘warm up’ protests across Britain

FUEL poverty campaigners staged “warm up” protests and occupations across Britain on Saturday in a day of action which included climbing into beds on display in Harrods department store in London.

More than 40 protests were staged over the effects of rampant increases in energy bills which are leaving 6.9 million disabled and vulnerable people unable to heat their homes.

Fuel Poverty Action and Don’t Pay UK united with other campaign groups staging rallies and occupations.

In Glasgow campaigners sat down with blankets, sleeping bags and hot water bottles outside the headquarters of Scottish Power in Glasgow.

Other warm up protests took place in shopping centres including Brighton’s Churchill Square, Liverpool’s St John’s, Bristol’s Cabot Circus and Manchester Arndale Centre.

Climate campaign groups also took part, protesting in the British Museum against the institution’s sponsorship links with BP. 

In Hastings campaigners occupied a branch of Barclays protesting against the bank’s investments in fossil fuels.

The campaigners are demanding government action to tackle the energy crisis.

In November, energy prices in Britain became the highest in the world.

Fuel Poverty Action is mounting an Energy For All campaign calling for a free band of energy to cover essential heating, lighting and cooking, funded by ending public subsidies for fossil fuels, a more effective windfall tax on energy companies and higher tariffs on luxury household energy use such as swimming pools.

Stuart Bretherton, Fuel Poverty Action’s Energy For All co-ordinator, said: “Ordinary people cannot keep footing the bill for crises created by the wealthy. It’s time for the big polluters and profiteers to pay their share.”

The Don’t Pay campaign says 200,000 energy customers are now refusing to pay their bills.

Spokesman Stuart Smith said: “We aim to empower the millions who already can’t pay their energy bills by turning this mass default into mass resistance, with grassroots groups across the UK coming together to protect their communities, keep each other warm and defend the payment strike.”

More than half of England’s and Wales’ 355 local authorities have opened “warm rooms” in public buildings for people who cannot heat their homes.

The 194 councils are promoting the initiative to the most vulnerable including children below school age and pensioners.
 

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