North East Cambridgeshire candidates on cost of living

Households have experienced their costs increase dramatically, including rent, food and energy bills.  

We put this to the election candidates and asked them how they would tackle this issue of they were elected.  

Find out more about the candidates here and what they also had to say about the Wisbech incinerator issue, the NHS and education.

Steve Barclay. Conservative.

Steve Barclay is the Conservative candidate for North East Cambridgeshire. (Image: Steve Barclay)

"Families across North East Cambridgeshire have faced tough times over recent years as the impact of a global pandemic and the war in Ukraine have impacted on the weekly shop and other household bills.

"That is why the Government took unprecedented action to help with the cost of living, with the furlough scheme and other support during the pandemic and help with energy bills more recently.  

"For example our Energy Price Guarantee saved the average UK household £1,000 and came on top of a £400 discount on energy bills.

"We also stuck to our clear plan to stabilise the economy and thankfully this week has brought more confirmation that our plan is working.  

"Inflation fell to just 2 per cent last month from the peak of 11 per cent reached in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.  

"We need to stick to our plan and go further in helping households with the cost of living by cutting taxes.  

"The last thing families need is a Labour government that will slap swingeing taxes on everyone to pay for their wasteful spending schemes.

"A vote for any other candidate only increases the likelihood of more taxes for us all."

David Chalmers. Liberal Democrat.  

David Chalmers is the Liberal Democrat candidate for North East Cambridgeshire. (Image: Supplied by David Chalmers) Under this Tory Government households have experienced the biggest fall in living standards on record. Not only have the Conservative Party failed to properly support people, but their mismanagement of our economy has also made the cost-of-living crisis even worse, leaving millions struggling to make ends meet.  

Liz Truss’s shambolic mini budget sent interest rates soaring, hitting millions of mortgage holders and renters.  Taxes on working families are at their highest level and the botched deal with the EU has stifled opportunities to increase productivity and prosperity. 

There is not going to be a quick fix, but the Liberal Democrat’s would start by:  

• Cutting energy bills through a home insulation programme – and providing heat pump incentives. 
• Extending free school meals to all children in poverty. 
• Bringing down the cost of food by increasing farming budget by £1bn a year.  
• Supporting motorists in rural areas by expanding Rural Fuel Duty Relief. 
• Supporting social care workers with a fair wage. 

And we would pay for this by: 

• Reversing tax cuts for big banks.  
• Introducing a windfall tax on the superb profits of oil and gas firms.  
• Giving HMRC proper resources to tackle tax avoidance and evasion. 
• And mending our broken relationship with Europe.  

Andrew Crawford. Green Party.  

Andrew Crawford is the North East Cambridgeshire candidate for the Green Party. (Image: Andrew Crawford) “The cost of living crisis has spiralled out of control by way of high rents, energy costs, mortgage interest and overall inflation.  

“Tackling any one of these issues is a 'sticky plaster' approach to the underlying issue of an unfair economy.  

“The Green Party approach is to provide every adult with a Citizens Basic Income: a monthly payment to ensure that everyone can meet their basic needs.” 

Javeria Hussain. Labour.  

Javeria Hussain is the parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party this upcoming general election. (Image: North East Cambridgeshire Labour) "I would support a Labour government in achieving its first steps which include achieving economic stability.   

“This means keeping taxes, inflation and mortgages as low as possible which will help everyone with the cost of living crisis.   

“Setting up Great British Energy will cut bills for everyone for good helping families and businesses alike.   

“Becoming a green energy superpower will create sustainable jobs too and there will be a new deal for working people increasing the minimum wage and banning zero hours contracts and fire and rehire.  

“There will be a modernised transport  network with subsidised fares like the Tiger Card Fares recently introduced by the Labour Mayor of the Combined Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, which means under 25 year olds can travel by bus for £1 per journey and all other adults are currently able to travel for £2 per journey." 

David Patrick. Independent.  

David Patrick is standing as an Independent candidate in North East Cambridgeshire. (Image: David Patrick) “At the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis food prices rose considerably.  

“This was exacerbated by massive increases in the price of oil and natural gas of which this country is a producer.  

“While businesses had to endure excessive energy costs to process our food etc. Again, putting up costs and energy companies posted excessive record profits.  

“Those excess and unreasonable profits should aa have been taken as a windfall tax and used to keep energy prices under control.  

“We paid some of the highest energy prices in Europe.  

“In times of crisis, constraints need to be put in place to try and reduce the rate at which inflation rises and to implement price reductions when world market prices fall back."

Clayton Payne. Workers Party of Britain.  

Clayton Payne is The Worker's Party candidate for North East Cambridgeshire. (Image: Clayton Payne) The cost-of-living crisis is a critical issue that impacts many families in North East Cambridgeshire.  

If elected, I will tackle this crisis head-on by focusing on fair wages, reducing energy costs, and controlling inflation. Wages must track inflation and putting a stop to government funding of foreign wars and handing wasteful large contracts to cronies has to end. 

• Fair Wages: I will advocate for increasing the minimum wage to ensure that all workers earn a living wage. This will be achieved through legislation and promoting the Real Living Wage across all sectors. Working families should always be able to afford to pay their bills. 
• Energy Costs: To reduce energy costs, I support re-nationalizing the energy sector. This will eliminate the profit motive and ensure that prices are fair and transparent. Current variable rates that penalise those using prepayment meters and without contracts must end. 
• Inflation Control: I advocate for measures to control inflation by regulating the prices of essential goods and reducing VAT on basic necessities. Profiteering and taxation should never happen on everyday essentials. 

Chris Thornhill. Reform UK. 

Christopher Thornhill is standing for the Reform party. (Image: Christopher Thornhill) “Reform UK will make work pay and help the unemployed to escape the benefits trap.  

“Lift the Income Tax Start Point to £20,000 Per Year This frees up to 7m people from paying Income Tax and saves every worker almost £1,500 per year.  

“Basic Tax rate stays at 20 per cent. The higher rate should begin at £70,000. These steps also ensures that state pension is not tax too thus protecting pensioners. 

“Cut Energy Taxes, Beat the Cost-of-Living Crisis Save households over £500 per year. Lower fuel duty by 20p per litre for both residential and business users. Scrap VAT on energy bills. Scrap environmental levies.”