Liberal Democrats urge York Labour to reverse their cut to food and fuel vouchers

York Liberal Democrats have launched an appeal to Labour Council bosses to reverse their cut to the number of food and fuel vouchers available to qualifying families ahead of a Council Finance Decision Session on the Household Support Fund.

The move follows a government decision in March 2024 to extend its Household Support Fund for only six months, and the Labour Council taking the decision to cut food and fuel vouchers from three a year of each to qualifying families to only one. The HSF helps to support financially vulnerable families with food, energy, and water bills.

In their alternative council budget for 2024/25, York’s Liberal Democrat councillors had proposed to ‘top up’ the HSF funding for the whole year with £400,000 of additional support, however this was voted down by Labour councillors.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Leader of the York Liberal Democrat Group said:

“The Household Support Fund is a vital lifeline for so many families that are being hard hit by the Conservatives’ continuing cost of living crisis. The Labour Council’s decision to scale back the support available to families in need shows exactly where their priorities lie, and it isn’t with those households that are struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table.

“Labour had the chance at the February Council Budget meeting to accept the Liberal Democrat amendment that would have funded the Household Support Fund for the entire year. Instead, they decided to put the money away into reserves whilst York’s most vulnerable residents struggle.

“We have called on Labour to reverse this decision otherwise residents will conclude that Labour has lost their way in York. Labour may claim money isn’t available but only weeks after they turned down this amendment they found £5 million for new capital borrowing. The truth is this administration has choices and these constantly penalise those who need support the most.

“After being elected last May, Councillor Claire Douglas promised York’s residents an emergency cost-of-living action plan within the first 100 days of her new administration. No such plan has been forthcoming.

“Instead, we see a regressive Green Bin Tax which takes no account of ability to pay, cuts to libraries and now a reduction in food and fuel vouchers. Labour’s decisions since being elected have hurt those struggling the most rather than help them.”