Queuing up to sign SSP petition on fuel prices in Irvine
Irvine up in arms over fuel prices
The Scottish Socialist Party has been out on the streets of Irvine gauging
the effects of the fuel price rises.
SSP Executive Committee member and Irvine resident Denise Morton said,
“Our street workers were overwhelmed by the response.
“People in Irvine are already feeling the effects of the oil profiteers.
“Food bills, travel, heating and electricity in peoples homes have all
shot up.
“Some people told us they did not know how they were going to get through
the winter.”
SSP campaigners had a petition calling on the Government to take the
profiteering out of essential fuel.
One local resident, angry at the price rises said,
“Really, we need to take the energy companies back into public ownership.
“My granny told me she burned the furniture to keep warm, are we going
to have to do the same thing."
Another signatory said;
“I have an elderly parent who is wheelchair bound to care for. Last winter
it cost her £7 a day to heat and light her home. I'm really worried about
her this winter.”
SSP member Neil Scott, said,
“My elderly mother and father and law live in Stevenston and instead
of enjoying their retirement years and the fruits of their labours,
they are having to scrimp and save to stay warm and feed themselves.
“It’s time for us to rid ourselves of the traitors in Parliament.
“And to think we were so happy in 1997 when we thought we had elected
a Labour Government!”
Denise Morton added;
“People were shocked when we pointed out how much profit these companies
were squeezing out of the poor. Scottish Gas made £700m, Scottish Power
£502m; Shell oil £14billion -that’s £1.5million an hour!
“When you think that the NHS and Education cost £9 billion in Scotland
last year, nationalising the fuel industries could have improved the
NHS and Education immensely!
“Yet the Government talks about cutbacks and people wearing an extra
jumper!”
“The reaction here in Irvine shows that people are sick of being squeezed
for every penny.
“The Labour government have targeted their taxes at the poor and working
people rather than the rich and the profit takers.
“Irvine has definitely rejected the policies of the New Labour project.”