That amounts to a cost of living crisis for people in West Dunbartonshire and across the country.

As the nights draw in and winter approaches people have been telling me they are worried about the choices they will have to make to pay their energy bills.

Frankly I don’t think that is right. People shouldn’t have to make the choice between putting food on the table and turning on the heating.

But since David Cameron has been in Downing Street prices have risen faster than wages in 38 out of 39 months and energy bills have gone up by almost £300.

When the price of energy increases energy companies pass this on but when it drops consumers don’t see their bills fall.

The problem is David Cameron can’t deal with the cost of living crisis because he stands up for a privileged few, not for ordinary families.

He has cut tax for people on over £150,000 a year while raising it for everyone else.

So I’m delighted that Ed Miliband told Labour Party Conference this week that Labour will freeze prices until the start of 2017 if Labour wins the next election. During this freeze he will reform the energy market to challenge the big six energy companies so that we can all get a fairer deal.

The freeze will save the average household £120 and an average business £1,800.

But people round here need help now.

So I’m calling on David Cameron to freeze our bills now.

And I’m asking local people to sign my petition today so that the voices of folk in West Dunbartonshire are heard loud and clear in Downing Street.

You can sign my petition at www.gemmadoyle.org.uk I am also delighted that Ed has promised that Labour will repeal the hated Bedroom Tax, if we are elected in 2015.

This is a spiteful policy which is causing misery and whilst the local council are trying their best to mitigate the impact, the effects will continue to mount and they simply cannot deal with it on their own.

With only 20 months to go until the next General Election, it was great to see Ed Miliband set out what a Labour Government would do to help people struggling to make ends meet and build a better Britain.

He set out commitments that he can and will deliver, if he becomes Prime Minister. He showed that Labour is the only party to help people with the cost of living crisis in West Dunbartonshire, in Scotland, and across the whole of the UK.