Jury is out on the effectiveness of Government action to tackle the financial crisis

2.43.00pm GMT Fri 14th Nov 2008

Tom Brake, local MP for Carshalton and Wallington has released today the results of his November e-democracy poll regarding the Government's response to the financial crisis.

In their email replies, 68% of the people answered that 'the government hasn't taken the right steps to help people through the financial crisis'. In contrast, 32% think 'the government has taken the right steps'.

'The results from this e-poll are less clear cut than previous polls. There is great uncertainty about whether the measures the government have implemented will help the many families and pensioners who are facing a really difficult time this winter. Many people thought it was too early to say or did not know what other measures the Government could introduce' commented Tom Brake.

The statistics point to a really cold economic climate. The number of homes being repossessed has increased by a staggering 71% this year, fuel poverty indicators suggest 4 out of 5 single pensioners will struggle to heat their homes this winter and local small businesses will find it increasingly difficult to borrow money from banks.

'I know that people from Carshalton and Wallington are suffering from the financial crisis. I expect the number of people coming to my regular advice surgeries seeking guidance regarding financial difficulties, energy bills, protecting their savings, missed mortgage payments and even repossession, to increase noticeably in the next few months as the recession starts to bite.'

Tom has welcomed the work undertaken by Sutton Council and local organisations such as the CAB to identify measures that would help reduce the impact of the recession.