Bill Esterson MP welcomes energy efficient homes scheme, but says it is:- "just a down payment" on future Labour plans

A ₤28.5m scheme to improve the energy efficiency of 2,500 homes across Merseyside, has been welcomed by Sefton Central MP, Bill Esterson, but he added that:- "The Government investment was paltry compared to Labour's plans." In a statement to the media, about the ₤28.5m Liverpool City Region plan, Bill Esterson MP said:- "Climate change is the biggest issue of our time and while this ₤28.5m funding is welcome, it is paltry compared to Labour's ambitious plans, which meet the scale of the challenge. The retrofitting of housing is key to fighting climate change. A plan to fit 2,500 homes in the Liverpool City Region with insulation, double glazing, upgraded heating systems and other renewable and low carbon technologies is a start, but it is just a down payment on what is needed in the future if the UK is to meet its net zero targets."

We are told that Labour have pledged to spend ₤60bn over a decade to retrofit 19 million homes. If the sums are correct, it could save households more than ₤400 per year on energy bills. Mr Esterson added:- "The Tories inherited plans from Labour to make every new home zero carbon. They scrapped them and now we have a crisis in energy prices and a fight to get to net zero. Emissions from homes have increased and we have the least energy efficient housing in Europe. There are more than 650,000 homes in the Liverpool City Region. Retrofitting 2,500 of them is a drop in the ocean."

This latest funding is in addition to a previous ₤11.3m scheme which is currently seeing around 1,100 homes across the City Region being fitted with the same sort of measures to improve energy efficiency and cut bills. The funding, from the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, will be spread across all 6Liverpool City Region Local Authorities.

The primary purpose of the funding is to raise the energy efficiency rating of low income and low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated homes (those with D, E, F or G) both on the gas grid and off the gas grid. This funding will also support low income households with the transition to low carbon heating. The funding was announced by the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram. Mr Esterson concluded:- "The Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is doing an excellent job of using the crumbs the Government give us in the most effective way to help the most vulnerable of our citizens. With Labour in Government we would turbo boost that investment so even more people will benefit, more jobs will be created and there will be more money in the pockets of local people to spend here in the Liverpool City Region."

Liverpool climate campaigners swap high street gift list for a climate conscious

LIVERPOOL climate campaigners, who participated in the COP26 climate protests, on Global Day of Action, are continuing to fight the climate crisis by buying lifesaving virtual gifts this Christmas. Passionate to making positive difference to tackling climate change, even when it comes to their Christmas shopping; the campaigners are continuing their fight for climate justice by gifting their loved ones with a CAFOD World Gift, this Christmas. The virtual World Gift is a life changing gift that represents and supports an area of development work by Catholic aid charity CAFOD, that helps transform the lives of vulnerable communities affected by poverty and climate change.

CAFOD told us that:- "The Restore the rainforest gift of:- ₤719 can help support people living in the Amazon who are under threat of eviction due to clearance, burning and logging and this gift can pay for the legal support needed to keep a community on their land so that they can continue to protect and restore the rainforest they are living in."

They also added that:- "The Fight fires in the Amazon gift of:- ₤18 can pay for essential tools such as:- hoes, sickles and hammers to enable indigenous fire brigades to manage the land they live on, preventing fires from starting or spreading. With the climate crisis making the summers hotter and dryer, this gift is needed more than ever as the fires happen more often."

The charity in a press release continued, saying:- "We all have the right to a home where we feel safe and can live with dignity, and the Safe place to call home. A gift of:- ₤175.00 does just that by helping families to access the legal support they need to secure their homes and livelihoods. This World Gift can pay for the legal fees to secure a family home, crops and land for generations. "

CAFOD representative for Liverpool, Siobhan Farnell says:- "As we enter the season of discount bargains, poverty doesn't do price cuts. The coronavirus Pandemic combined with the worsening climate crisis, is pushing even more people into poverty. Our Charity gifts can bring joy to both those you give them to and the people we work with. Our World Gifts selection are waste free. The money raised will give opportunities to the most vulnerable people in communities to achieve life improving change. We are inspired by CAFOD supporters in Liverpool, loyal World Gift purchasers, their compassion and generosity is at the heart of changing lives."

Restore the rainforest photo caption:- "Dona Lindalva is a community leader in Porto Seguro Settlement in Brazil, a protected area in the Amazon surrounded by cattle farms."

The Fight fires in the Amazon photo caption:- "Paula volunteers as an indigenous firefighter to help prevent fires from spreading out of control."