Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has blasted the continued inaction of the Conservative Government to tackle the energy bills crisis and has called for a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas to stop energy bills rising over the next year.
The Warm Homes Discount being promoted by Labour would be funded by a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas providers – who have profited from price rises – would save £200 on energy bills for most people, with £600 being saved from bills of pensioners and the lowest earners.
In Stockton on Tees it is calculated that 31,220 households would benefit from a £600 Warm Homes Discount offer: 18,053 in Stockton North and 13,167 in Stockton South. In Parliament two weeks ago Alex highlighted the plight of one constituent who has seen their energy bills rocket and is now worried about having to make the choice about eating or heating.
Alex said:
“A decade of failed energy policies from the Conservative Government has left us deeply exposed as a country, and hits the most vulnerable people hardest when it comes to rising energy costs.
“People in Stockton on Tees are worried about the rising cost of energy bills which, alongside wage stagnation, cuts to Universal Credit, and planned increases in National Insurance, will hit their pay packets and force households to make tough choices.
“We’ve set out a plan to tackle this crisis but the Conservative Government needs to act quickly and support people across Stockton on Tees and beyond with meaningful measures to tackle this energy crisis.”
Notes to Editors:
- Labour’s policy would increase Warm Homes Discount to £400 and extend it to middle-income households claiming Universal Credit, Legacy Benefits or Pension Credit
- Data on the numbers eligible for Labour’s Warm Homes Discount offer are based on figures published by the House of Commons Library, referring to August 2021, and a data extract from the Department for Work and Pensions Stat-Xplore database, referring to May 2021.
