Labour proposes in the short term to keep bills down by cutting VAT on energy and expanding the Warm Homes Discount, taking at least £200 off the typical bill, with up to £400 in additional support for low and middle earners and pensioners, paid for by a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas profits.

Labour also has a longer term plan to build a stronger economy that gives people the respect they deserve, provides real economic security and delivers prosperity in every part of Britain. A plan for an industrial Britain, a learning Britain, an investing Britain, an innovative Britain and a trading Britain.

Rachel Reeves spoke of Labour being a future-looking government, working in a spirit of cooperation with businesses and trade unions. Labour offers a contract between British government and the British people, a national effort to build a stronger economy, more resilient public services - and prosperity felt in every part of Britain.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Our members are facing a cost of living crisis, with prices for food and fuel rising, energy bills soaring and real wages falling. At the same time the Prime Minister appears to be only focussed on saving his own job as he desperately tries to explain away multiple Downing Street parties.

“This Government is only making life worse for those struggling to make ends meet. Added to an already high rate of inflation, the Government is imposing a springtime triple whammy of a freeze on the income tax threshold, rising council tax and a hike in National Insurance contributions. This simply is not good enough and will devastate many working households.

“Rachel Reeves today set out a plan and showed that Labour is focussed on the lives of working people. They understand that we can’t continue in an economy of high prices, high taxes and low growth. Labour’s plan is centred around an industrial strategy for Britain, which includes the high street and retail, promoting education and learning, alongside investing in business to provide good jobs across the UK.

“The contrast could not be starker. A Prime Minister struggling for support from his own MPs, mired in controversy and desperately clinging onto his job. Or Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, tackling the issues of concern to our members, demonstrating they are ready for government and building a plan to ensure that the country’s best days lie ahead.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
Rachel Reeves’s speech setting out Labour’s Plan for a Stronger Economy: https://labour.org.uk/press/rachel-reevess-speech-setting-out-labours-plan-for-a-stronger-economy/
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion