THE MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston is calling for the Government to urgently provide some answers to the country as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

Last week, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced a plan to freeze the energy price cap at its current rate to save the average family £1,000 on annual bills.

The opposition party also proposed in the plan ways to cut inflation.

Labour called for the price cap to be frozen at its current level of £1,971 – rather than increasing it to £3,300 in October.

Speaking to the Globe, Justin Madders MP, said: “We’re talking about potentially huge increases which are well beyond most peoples budget.

"We need to tackle the imminent increase in energy prices by saying that there won’t be any more increases in the energy price cap."

With many people continuing to struggle, the Labour MP explained what help is out there for people in the local community. 

He said: "There are a lot of great people and organisations out there who will be able to do something to make life a little bit easier and we need to encourage people to reach out.”

“I have had conversations with the food bank to try and find a way to make that ‘weekly shop’, basic staples that any family will need, a lot more affordable.”

“There is potential for a new venture which will enable people to get a good chunk of their weekly groceries for a much lower price. However, it is still a working progress.”

What is the cause of the crisis?

Many will be putting the pandemic down to the initial cause of the cost-of-living crisis, but Justin Madders explained that this is not the case.

He said: “I don’t think the pandemic is really much to do with it.

“The main cause of inflation has been the massive increase in gas prices that we’ve seen. 

“First, we haven’t got ourselves a national sustainable source of energy. Closing down one of the gas containers around five years ago was a huge mistake with no reserves to rely on.

“We’ve also failed to invest in renewable energy sufficiently. Messing around on wind farms, both on land and offshore. That hasn’t progressed in the way it should have done.

“We haven’t invested enough in our homes to ensure that they are as efficient as possible in terms of heat efficiency and that is again probably a symptom of mismanagement over the last decade."

A new Prime Minister

The Labour MP went on to speak about his opinions towards the introduction of a new Prime Minister later on this year, after Boris Johnson resigned last month.

He told the Globe: “Whenever we get a new Prime Minster, it really does have to be their main priority.

“What we would like is some commitment from Government now on that to match what we’ve said to make a real difference to ordinary families.

“Our job is to continue to put pressure on Government to deal with this and deal with it as a priority.”

“Fuel bills won’t start till October, but people are thinking about it now and are worried sick about it. That’s why it’s important that there’s an early Government announcement to give people a bit of hope and to feel more positive about the coming months.”

The Ellesmere Port and Neston community

Finally, as a politician for Ellesmere Port and Neston, Justin Madders MP explained how he is attempting to tackle the crisis head on, to help those in desperate need of assistance.

He said: “I understand how tough it is for everyone, how anxious people are and it’s my job firstly to try and help people locally.

“If people come to us in need of some assistance, we will do what we can and point people in the right direction and try help them out of their predicaments.

“But equally what we have to do and what I have to do as an MP is to really hammer home to the Government the importance of coming up with some answers to this as a priority because everyday that we don’t get a decision on this is another day where people are suffering extreme anxiety about what the winter will bring.

“We want a decision sooner rather than later.”