SNP MSP Emma Roddick has warned that households across the Highlands & Islands could face bills of up to £5,000 next April.
The warning comes after the Tories performed yet another U-turn and scrapped protections offered to families on the energy price cap.
Labour also abstained on an SNP amendment that would have prevented this.
Ms Roddick, who represents the Highlands & Islands, expressed that the latest Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt’s decision to scale back the energy price cap freeze was reckless and would see many across her region in real hardship.
The price cap, which was initially set to last for two years, has now been reversed to just six months.
Ms Roddick expressed that it was unacceptable that households will now face massive energy bill rises again in April 2023
Commenting, Ms Roddick said:
“There is now absolutely no doubt that Scots are paying a heavy price for Westminster’s failures and would be better off with the full powers of independence.
“By removing the very little protection they offered to households in the current climate, the Tory Government has more than displayed it’s priorities.
“My team and I are in contact with people across the Highlands & Islands that are being hit by the UK Government’s reckless decisions and failure to act on rising energy bills every single day.
“It is truly heart wrenching to see so many struggling this much across my region.
“I cannot express how deeply disappointing it is to see the Labour Party, once again, sat on its hands and refusing to offer up real opposition when it’s needed the most, and leaving households across the nation in the firing line.
“Labour’s failure to support the SNP once again exposes the democratic deficit where the vast majority of Scotland’s MPs vote one way while Westminster MPs vote for the total opposite.
“This is an intolerable situation we would escape with independence.
“Those in my region and across the rest of Scotland should no longer be forced to bear the rising cost of Westminster failure.
“We need the full powers of independence to set a better path and escape the Tories for good.”
