Shadow Business Minister Seema Malhotra MP Backs SRUK's Calls for Energy Help

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget and statement on 15^th March we are delighted that Shadow Business Minister and MP for Feltham and Heston, Seema Malhotra, has joined our campaign to keep heating affordable for those living with Raynaud’s.

SRUK is calling for government action after finding that many people with Raynaud’s, who typically rely on their heating to prevent painful attacks, are struggling with the high cost of energy.

According to our survey in October last year, more than four in five people with Raynaud’s (81%) are worried about the cost of their energy and many (75%) reported experiencing Raynaud’s attacks as a result of choosing to forego their heating.

Around two in five (39%) said they are trying to find alternative ways to keep warm and around one in five (19%) said they were buying less food to prioritise paying their energy bills.

With the Energy Price Guarantee set to increase in April to £3,000 per year for an average household, we are concerned this will make matters even worse.

Malhotra, Labour MP for Feltham and Heston, knows first-hand the impact Raynaud’s can have. Her mother lived with the condition for many years before she passed away in July 2022 aged 84.

Malhotra said: “The government and energy companies must work to keep heating affordable for people with Raynaud’s, where hands or feet can suddenly turn white and be very painful. Those living with this condition rely on staying warm to keep it under control. This is why I’m backing SRUK’s fight to make sure people with Raynaud’s are heard and given the support they need to live well.”

Sue Farrington, Chief Executive of SRUK, said: “We’re delighted to have the support of Seema Malhotra MP to help shine a light on this issue. Raynaud’s is a recognised health condition requiring, in some cases, specialist care. Despite this, it is too often dismissed as ‘cold hands and feet’ by people with no real understanding of this condition.

“People with this condition are hugely vulnerable to the cold and a warm home can be the difference between good health and living in excruciating pain. But the cost of energy is leaving many at risk of painful Raynaud's attacks. This should never be acceptable.”

As part of our energy campaign, we're calling on the government to ensure there is support to help those with Raynaud’s afford their energy. Write to your MP to share your stories and highlight the support needed for those with Raynaud's - we have a letter template available to download here.

Farrington said: “As the government prepares its spring budget, we desperately need them to understand what life is like when you live with Raynaud’s. That’s why we’re calling on the Raynaud’s community to get in touch with their MPs – to help us hold the government to account. We fear that people’s health will be at risk if those with Raynaud’s continue to be ignored.”