An East Lancashire MP has issued an apology after saying people who can’t afford their energy bills should turn their heating off or “get a new job”.
Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen and Conservative Party chair, said the language he used in the Sky interview last week was “rather clumsy”.
During an interview on Sky News, Mr Berry said that if people can't afford their energy bills, they should either reduce the amount of energy they use or "go out and get a better paid job".
Appearing on ITV news show Good Morning Britain, Mr Berry said he was trying to make a point about the Government’s long-term goal of economic growth.
He said: “The language I used on my interview on Sky the other day was rather clumsy and I regret it.
“The point I was trying to make, as part of a much longer interview, is that the Government needs to go for growth to ensure that we can grow the economy and that the whole of Britain can get a pay rise.”
Mr Berry added that he understands how hard people work in the Rossendale and Darwen community he was elected to represent.
He said: “I don’t need to be told how hard people graft.
“I’m out and about across Rossendale and Darwen all the time speaking to people, I know how hard people work.
"I also know and understand that they have aspiration and ambition for their family.
“The motivation for me and this Government is to create growth in the economy, to create more highly paid secure jobs so that people can say ‘…you know what? I’m going to take a bit of a risk'.
“'I’m going to leave my current job as my employer has just created a new role which is more senior and has some training involved because I want to be able to do better for me and my family.’”
“That’s why the government is creating growth.
“Ambition and aspiration are not a bad thing, this is not just some academic exercise.
“It's so people who get up every morning to go to work can make those decisions, to move on, improve their lives and make a better life for them and their families.”
Speaking to the show’s presenters, Kate Garraway and Ben Shepherd, Mr Berry also discussed the proposed nurses strike.
He said: “When we are sat in Government I don’t think of nurses as a huge group and me not knowing any of them.
“I think of the nurses who let me and my sister in, probably in breach of the tight rules at the time, to see my mother as she was dying.
“They do fantastic work.
“I understand that it’s unprecedented and I do hope they will think the offer from the independent NHS pay review body of five per cent… it is an acknowledgement of that really special relationship we have in this country with our nursing professionals.
“I’m sure they will understand [this is] a very difficult and troubling times for our nation, not caused by this government, but by a war in Ukraine, repercussions of Covid and a global crisis in terms of inflation across the world.”
Since his appearance on the show many have taken to social media to comment. Some accepted his apology while others insist Mr Berry has “missed the point”.
One person said: “While I welcome your acknowledgement that your statement was ill judged, you continue to miss the point here.
“The reality is that there are many people who do not have this choice. This is why people are angry.
“In the early days of the pandemic we were clapping for key workers many of whom are in low paid jobs and literally saved us. It's those same people who can't afford their heating or weekly food bills.”
Valerie Tomlinson said: “Shame on you Jake Berry.
“I have been working as a staff nurse in the NHS for almost 20 years and I am currently being paid £16.34 per hour following the latest pay increase.
“I was absolutely devastated to hear your comments about getting a higher paid salary - if you want to keep your staff in the NHS then pay us more or unfortunately we will be looking for other jobs that pay us more and the NHS will be in even worse a crisis.”
Another woman said: “You didn’t say anything wrong Jake. We work for what [we] want."
Another said: “I agree with Jake, he did word this in a clumsy way and it’s right for him to be picked up for it.
“In his defence I think he was making an effort to encourage people to be aspirational and to be all that they can be.”
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