The SNP has challenged the Chancellor to introduce a package of measures to slash household energy costs at the UK budget – after energy bills increased by £149 this winter.
SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Kirsty Blackman MP has urged the Labour government to introduce a package of measures to help households with energy bills – including reversing the cuts to the winter fuel payment, scrapping plans to raise fuel duty, introducing a social tariff for energy bills, and announcing a timetable for when it deliver its election pledge to cut energy bills by £300 a year.
During the general election campaign, Keir Starmer promised voters “My Labour government will tackle the root causes of the cost of living crisis and help families save up to £300 off their energy bills” but since winning power energy bills have gone up by ten percent – £149 a year – for a typical household, the combined £600 Winter Fuel Payment and Pensioner Cost of Living Payment have been abolished for most pensioners, there are reports the Chancellor is planning to increase fuel duty, and ministers have rolled-back on their election pledge to reduce bills.
Earlier this month, Labour Party MPs blocked an SNP amendment to the GB Energy Bill, which would have forced the UK government to reduce energy bills by £300.
The Labour Party also blocked another SNP amendment that would have forced the UK government to regularly update parliament on the progress it is making on lowering energy bills.
Following increases to gas and electricity prices on 1st October, a household in Scotland, England and Wales using a typical amount of gas and electricity will see their annual bill rise by about £149 to £1,717, according to Ofgem.
The SNP has said it means the Labour government will now need to reduce bills by £449 a year to meet their election pledge.
Meanwhile a pensioner, who received the £200-£300 Winter Fuel Payment and the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment last year, will be up to £600 worse off this winter, after the Labour Party abolished both payments for the overwhelming majority of pensioners, including around 900,000 Scottish pensioners.
Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Kirsty Blackman MP said:
“Keir Starmer promised voters he would reduce energy bills by £300 but instead bills have gone up again on the Labour Party’s watch – with a typical household now paying £149 more a year.
“Instead of tackling the soaring cost of energy, the Labour government has made it even worse by increasing household energy bills by ten per cent, taking £600 in winter fuel payments from pensioners, and proposing to increase fuel duty for millions of motorists.
“It’s no wonder the Labour Party’s poll ratings have plummeted so quickly when they have already broken so many promises – and left millions of households worse off.
“If the Chancellor wants to repair the damage to the Labour government’s reputation, she must abandon her plan to impose billions of pounds of austerity cuts and fuel duty rises, and introduce a package of measures to slash bills, including reversing the cuts to the winter fuel payment, introducing a social tariff, and finally announcing when it will reduce bills by £300.
“It’s shameful that some of the poorest and most vulnerable people will be forced to choose between heating and eating this winter as a result of Labour Party cuts.
“The Labour government now needs to reduce bills by £449 to meet its election pledge, and people want to know when it will happen.
“They must publish a clear timetable now – or admit if it’s destined to be yet another broken promise from the Labour Party.”
