‘Warm homes, lower bills’: Labour’s plan to tackle fuel poverty

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is set to unveil a plan ensuring all renters have warm homes during his address at Labour's annual conference today (23 September).

The government's initiative promises to lift over one million households out of fuel poverty. This will be the most significant improvement to home energy standards in history.

Miliband's pledge goes beyond Labour's manifesto promises, extending commitments to enhance energy standards in both the private and social rented sectors.

As families continue to struggle with soaring energy costs, many renters are forced to live in cold, poorly insulated homes.

Raising energy efficiency standards

Miliband's speech is expected to show the government's determination to reverse these failures, and their commitment to consult by the end of the year on raising energy efficiency standards for rented homes by 2030.

He said:

“We all know that the poorest people in our country often live in cold, draughty homes. It is a Tory legacy. It is a Tory scandal. It is a Tory outrage. This government will not tolerate this injustice and we will end it. 

“And because being Labour means we raise our sights to tackle injustice, we will go further and faster than promised in our manifesto: ensuring every rented home reaches decent standards of energy efficiency.

“Warmer homes, lower bills, over one million people lifted out of fuel poverty.  That's the difference a Labour government makes.”

Better quality of life

This announcement marks a key step in the Labour government's Warm Homes plan, which aims to transform housing across the nation through better insulation and solar energy installations.

With these measures, Labour say they’re setting a new course for energy independence, clean power, and overall improvement in the quality of life for renters across the UK.

The announcement follows deputy prime minister Angela Rayner's introduction of a series of measures aimed at improving housing quality on the first day of the conference.