Fresh political pressure has erupted over rising energy bills after new figures showed households across the UK will soon be paying hundreds of pounds more than Labour previously promised before last year’s General Election.
The latest increase follows confirmation from Ofgem that the energy price cap will rise again in July from £1,641 to £1,862 per year, adding further pressure to households already struggling with the cost of living.
Critics argue the figure now leaves bills £594 higher than Labour’s pre election pledge to cut annual household energy costs by £300.
At the centre of the latest political row is the wider argument over Scotland’s energy resources, ownership and control, with fresh calls for Scotland to have greater powers over energy policy and pricing.
The issue is expected to dominate debate at Holyrood as MSPs discuss proposals demanding that Scotland’s energy resources should deliver greater direct benefit to Scottish households and communities.
The political argument comes at a time when Scotland continues producing significant amounts of oil, gas and renewable energy while many households remain among those facing some of the highest energy costs in Europe.
Graham Leadbitter said:
“£594, that’s the price households are paying for the Labour Party’s broken promises on energy bills.
“It is the price Scotland pays because Westminster controls our energy.
“The Labour Party promised ‘change’ but have continued the Westminster chaos, they promised to cut bills but under their watch the cost-of-living emergency has gone from bad to worse.
“People in energy rich Scotland pay some of the highest energy bills in Europe while up to 1000 energy jobs are being lost a month, it is a disgrace.
“Under Westminster control more than £350 billion has been syphoned off from our North Sea with nothing sent back the other way, but by putting Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands, we can lower bills and protect Scottish jobs.
“Most Scots want Scotland to control her own energy resources and the SNP won on a clear policy platform to demand just that, it’s time Westminster listened.
“Westminster’s refusal to acknowledge the basic injustice that energy rich Scotland is home to families that pay sky high bills is exactly why more and more people are concluding we need a fresh start with independence.”
The debate lands as pressure continues mounting on both Westminster and Holyrood over energy affordability, the future of Scotland’s oil and gas sector and how the transition toward renewable energy should benefit communities across the country.
For many households, however, the political arguments matter less than the simple reality that another rise in bills is coming at a time when family finances remain under sustained strain.
