• IN 1952, in his milestone book In Place of Fear, Nye Bevan wrote about “unnecessary deprivation” and said: “There is a universal and justifiable conviction that the lot of the ordinary man and woman is much worse that it need be.”

Seventy years later, the language we use to discuss social conditions has changed but the situation facing ordinary people under a Tory government, sadly, is all too familiar.

Tens of thousands of Camden residents and families are being hit hard by the cost of living crisis and are facing increasing financial insecurity.

This is not the result of some unexplained natural disaster but is the direct result of the government’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It has been made worse by the Tories’ cuts to social security, their adamant refusal to increase universal credit payments and by the hike in National Insurance contributions.

Wages are not keeping up with bills. The costs of food, heating, fuel and household essentials are all rising. Everyone’s living standards are being squeezed, while those on the lowest incomes are hit hardest.

Despite the fact that the Tories have cut our funding by 67 per cent, Camden is investing in support for those facing the greatest hardship:

— £2million cost of living fund will provide financial support for those facing financial crisis and help more than 5,000 residents, including those with no recourse to public funds;

— £28million on council tax support, giving relief on bills to 22,000 households, with 17,000 of them not having to pay any council tax at all;

— a discretionary energy rebate scheme giving £150 to the 5,000 residents living in council tax bands E to H, who receive council tax support.

In addition we will support the setting up of food co-operatives in every community to address food poverty and will launch a council team to co-ordinate action to tackle the cost of living crises.

A Labour-run Camden will always step up to help those most in need. If only we had a government that did the same.

CLLR RICHARD OLSZEWSKI
Cabinet Member for Finance