Tories warn Britons are seeing costs soar thanks to Government’s policies
Labour came under fire over eye-watering energy bills after announcing an extension to a discount scheme. Eligible households will now receive the £150 Warm Home Discount every winter for the rest of the decade.
But the Tories blamed Labour’s energy policies for Britons who are “seeing their bills soar” despite the party pledging in its election manifesto to slash them by £300. Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “What the Government isn’t telling you is this discount for some families, paid for by everyone else through their energy bills. Most families will see no benefit from this announcement, but despite Ed Miliband promising families he would cut their bills by £300, they are seeing their bills soar thanks to Labour’s policies.
“We need a real plan to make electricity cheap in this country, for households and industry. If we don’t address the underlying problem that we have some of the highest electricity bills in the world, we will keep losing industry, and households will continue to struggle.”
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair’s organisation called on Labour to row back on plans for clean power by 2030.
Tone Langengen, senior energy policy adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said: “Extending the Warm Home Discount will give real help to families struggling with high energy bills, and that’s welcome.
“But ultimately, discounts alone won’t fix the problem if bills keep rising in the first place. With public debt already high, spending has to focus on permanently lowering energy costs. The priority should be clear: cheaper power by 2030, net zero by 2050.
“If the transition cuts bills and drives growth, it will be fair and sustainable. If it doesn’t, households risk paying twice – through their taxes and their energy bills.”
Independent Age urged the Government to increase the Warm Home Discount, which is available to low-income households and those on pension credit, to £400.
The charity’s director of policy and influencing, Morgan Vine, said: “Our advisers continue to hear from older people who are going to bed in hats and coats, spending their days in public places to stay warm, and cutting back on food so they can afford their heating. This is not acceptable, and it cannot continue.”
The latest extension to the Warm Home Discount will see eligible households provided with the £150 rebate on their energy bills every winter until 2030-31.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said on Thursday: “Tackling the affordability crisis is the Government’s number one priority.
“That is why we are today confirming to millions of eligible families across the country that they will receive the £150 Warm Home Discount every winter for the rest of the decade.
“That will give families much-needed peace of mind that they will continue to receive vital support, as we take action to bring down bills for good.”
The move comes amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis driven by soaring wholesale energy prices, with the average bill hitting £1,758 a year this winter.
