Support a windfall tax for social and environmental justice
NUS President Wes Streeting, and other leaders from across the progressive community, civil society and from all corners of the UK, have joined forces to urge bill payers in the UK to get behind a campaign for a windfall tax on the energy and oil companies. A statement, co-ordinated by Compass, appeared in the guardian to promote this campaign.
Wes Streeting, NUS President said:“Rising energy and fuel prices are affecting everyone but it's the poorest and those on fixed incomes who are paying the heaviest price. Students will be particularly affected by this as the new academic year begins. The warm summer weather will not mask the anxiety and anger at dramatically rising bills for the essentials of life - light and heat.”
Progressive celebrities, academics, writers, journalists, campaigners, trade unionists and politicians are backing a sensible one-off windfall tax because they believe it's the right thing to do in order to deliver social and environmental justice for all. Despite billions made in profits, the energy industry spends just £50 million a year combating fuel poverty and has only agreed to raise this to £150 million a year by 2010. But every 10 per cent increase in energy prices mean an extra 400,000 people go into fuel poverty.
Signatories include Lord Hattersley, Lord Richard Rogers, Tony Woodley (Unite), Billy Hayes (CWU), Dave Prentis (UNISON), Mark Serwotka (PCS), Neal Lawson, (Compass), Friends of the Earth, Kate Green (CPAG), Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Tony Juniper, and more than 30 Labour MPs.
Take action now
We urge you and your students to add your voice to this growing campaign and to support a windfall tax for social and environmental justice by signing up online.
Return to this campaign's homepage or view all articles in this campaign.