MP demands action to insulate homes after 21 constituents die over the winter due to living in a cold home

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has demanded Government action to better insulate homes, after heartbreaking new figures showed that 21 people in Westmorland and Lonsdale died due to living in a cold home in the winter of 2020/21.

This morning, Tim met with National Energy Action – the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity - where he also learned that 4,735 people (12% of all residents) in Westmorland and Lonsdale live in fuel poverty.

This afternoon, Tim took the issue to the House of Commons chamber.

Speaking during Energy Security and Net Zero questions, Tim said: “Living in a cold home over the space of a year cost 21 of my constituents their lives.

“One of the reasons behind these tragic figures is that homes in rural communities are harder, more difficult to insulate.

“So on that basis, will the minister urgently review the ECO4 and ECO+ guidelines to prioritise the hardest properties to insulate so that we cut bills and save lives?”

In response, the Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability, Amanda Solloway offered to meet with Tim to discuss the issue.

The minister said: “Of course it's always a tragedy to hear those figures.

“I do on a regular basis have meetings with the honourable gentleman. Of course I will have a meeting to discuss this further because one of the things we are committed to as a government is to make sure that we are supporting all vulnerable people, including all of those who have disabilities and additional needs.”