THE severity of the energy crisis facing the most vulnerable people this winter was highlighted today.

Leeds City Council has published a map of 18 free “warm places” where people can avoid freezing in their homes, as Parliament was urged to back a free energy allowance for basic needs for all.

The map identifies the first of 36 “warm places” to be opened in Leeds in public buildings including libraries and community centres. More are being planned in other buildings.

Similar plans are in place or being drawn up by local authorities in towns and cities across the country.

Leeds City Councillor Mary Harland said that partner organisations were now needed to open more warm places “so we can all help each other and especially our most vulnerable residents to keep safe and well in the challenging months to come.”

It comes as a cross-party group of MPs are calling for the introduction of a universal basic energy allowance and a fresh push on retrofitting in a bid to tackle the climate and energy price crisis.

The Energy Equity Commission Bill calling for a free energy allowance for basic needs including heating, lighting and cooking was presented by Labour MP Clive Lewis today and is being supported by MPs from Plaid Cymru, the SDLP and Alliance parties and Green MP Caroline Lewis.

Campaign group Fuel Poverty Action is supporting the Bill and will hand in its Energy For All petition, signed by more than 600,000 people, to Downing Street on Wednesday.

The Energy For All petition calls for “free energy, enough to cover the basics like heating, cooking and lighting.”