Derry 'Cost of Living Crisis' campaign rally told failure of government to deliver putting many under greater pressure

A rally was held by the Cost of Living Crisis Campaign in Guildhall Square last Friday ahead of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Hardship Crisis Energy Support meeting.

In response to the rally, Cost of Living Crisis Campaign spokesperson, Joe Moore, said: "We want to thank everyone who supported our £600 Energy Support Payments Now! protest before the Council meeting on Friday.

"We don't buy for one second the Tory Secretary of State's claim he did everything possible to get the payments delivered here.

"People in all communities here are an afterthought to Tories in Westminster."

Mr. Moore continued: "The failure of Westminster and Stormont to deliver this basic amount of support will threaten the lives of vulnerable people as temperatures hit freezing and put many households struggling with hardship under greater pressure.

Mayor Sandra Duffy with councillors and Santa take part in the Cost of Living Protest at the Guildhall on Friday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

"We have MLAs in Stormont refusing to go to work but who are content to force people into destitution and content to see workers lose pay because they're forced to take strike action.

"But they'll get their pictures taken at foodbanks. They have no shame."