Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has today slammed the Conservatives for ‘awful management’ of Britain’s energy sector – and has joined calls for a windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas to stop energy bills rising over the next year.
Energy prices have soared over recent months, leaving people and businesses struggling to meet the costs. The last energy price cap increase, in October, pushed bills to an average of £1,277 a year for a dual-fuel bill. The next review is expected to push bills up by 50% to nearer £2,000.
Labour have pointed to the government’s failure to meet the vast potential of British renewable and nuclear energy, failure to make more homes warm and well-insulated, and failure to properly regulate the energy market, leading to dozens of energy companies going bust.
To address the immediate crisis, Labour have outlined fully-funded measures to reduce the expected price rise in April. The move would save most households around £200 or more. It would also offer support to pensioners and the lowest earners, who would receive up to £600 off bills.
Labour would fund the plan with a one-off windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas producers who have profited from price rises.
Highlighting how crucial it is to keep energy bills lower in future, Labour have said they would:
• Reduce Britain’s reliance on imported gas by accelerating home-grown renewables and new nuclear
• Make sure 19 million homes are warm and well-insulated, saving households an average of £400 a year on bills
• Regulate the market better, with a pledge to never again let energy companies play fast and loose with the rules.
Commenting on the plan, Andrew Gwynne said:
“The Conservatives have been in power for over 10 years. In that time they have repeatedly failed to meet the vast potential of British renewable energy. Awful management and years of dither and delay is now hitting working people hardest.
I want to stop bills going up for people and businesses across Denton and Reddish. This is why Labour’s plan to give families extra security is so crucial. By taking fully-funded measures we could save most households around £200 or more, and give people the support they need.
Alongside these measures, Labour would plan to keep energy bills lower in the future by accelerating home-grown renewable energy. We urgently need to reform our broken energy system to stop anything like this happening again. The green energy transition is not only good for the planet, but consumers too.
People across Denton and Reddish deserve an affordable and secure energy system that works for them.”