Reducing the Impacts of the Cost of Living Crisis

Charlie is focused on easing the financial pressure on local households and getting our economy back on track. He is committed to standing up for local families and businesses during this cost-of-living crisis. He will continue to push for the changes needed to and support our community through these difficult times.

Holding the Government to Account

💼 Charlie is using his position on the Business and Trade Select Committee to push the Government for real action.

📢 He’s raised important questions about how we can tackle the cost-of-living crisis and stimulate economic growth.

💱 Recently, Charlie questioned the Minister for Trade about our free trade agreements and how they can support economic recovery.

Standing Up to Thames Water

💷 Thames Water have asked for a £3 billion loan with 9.75% interest rate to “give it the space needed to complete a restructuring of its debts and attract a cash injection from prospective new investors”.

📈 To pay for their debts, Thames Water have been allowed to raise bills by more than 35% over the next five years. Charlie has been vocally opposed to this. The company has claimed this increase is not enough, and has appealed to be allowed to raise bills by 59% over the next five years. This is at the same time as claiming that additional debt will not affect customers bills. 

⚖️ Charlie has been fighting this extra debt in the High Court, arguing instead that the company should be taken into Special Administration. To learn more about Charlie's fight for Thames Water customers, visit his Clean Water and Fair Bills Campaign page.

Listening to Local Residents and Businesses

🧑‍💼 Charlie is in regular contact with local residents and businesses to understand their challenges.

🧑‍🔧 He’s met with local businesses to discuss how apprenticeships and skills training can be improved to help career progression.

🏢 Charlie has also met with Job Centre Plus in Witney to ensure people have the support they need to get into work.

Campaigning for Fairer Welfare Reform

Charlie and his Liberal Democrat colleagues are pushing for significant changes to improve our welfare system.

🧒 Fighting Child Poverty: The Liberal Democrats are calling for the removal of the two-child limit and the benefits cap.

🪙 Universal Credit Reform: They want to reduce the wait for the first payment of Universal Credit from five weeks to just five days, as well as equal payment rates for all claimants, regardless of age.

👷 Replacing the Sanctions System: Charlie and the Lib Dem's are advocating for a new incentive-based approach to help people into work, rather than penalizing them.

🏠 Supporting Homelessness Prevention: They're also fighting for more resources for local authorities to help those at risk of homelessness.