Graham Leadbitter has praised a “welcome step” towards securing a Highland Energy Rebate and lower energy bills for people living in the North of Scotland following a meeting with the UK government to discuss his campaign.
The Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP, who recently welcomed full Scottish Government support for the campaign, met with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Shanks, and fellow Highlands SNP MP Brendan O’Hara, earlier this week to discuss the proposal which would see residents in the Highlands provided with a rebate on their energy bills.
If introduced by the UK government, the rebate would end an injustice that sees many consumers in the Highlands and North of Scotland pay premiums for their energy, despite living next to key renewable energy producing sites.
Energy bills for households in the Highlands are ordinarily higher, but have risen even more due to Labour’s inability to control the energy price cap, which has risen twice since they took office and is set to rise again.
Despite a promise to lower energy bills by £300 for the average consumer, bills will instead have risen £279 by April.
Commenting, Graham Leadbitter MP said:
“I’m satisfied that the UK government listened to my concerns and expressed an understanding of the injustice people in the Highlands face with higher energy bills.
“I see that as a welcome step towards securing a fair and equitable solution.
“But what we now need is action that delivers for Highlanders and seriously cuts their energy bills.
“Much of the energy powering homes in the rest of the UK is produced in the Highlands, and yet the homes closest to the production of the clean and renewable energy so many people rely on are often stuck with the highest bills.
“People who can see excess energy being generated from their gardens should not be paying more to heat their homes or use their appliances.
“And that injustice is an especially bitter pill to swallow now, with energy prices set to rise for a third time under Labour in April.
“They promised to reduce bills by £300, instead they’ve risen by £279.
“When you add that to the premiums people are paying in this part of Scotland it amounts to a scandal.
“Labour must not copy the mistakes of previous governments in allowing this injustice to continue – they must implement a Highland Energy Rebate.”
