Richard Foord MP: Save families in Devon from £500 energy bill rise in April

The Devon MP is calling for cuts to people's bills instead, combined with a new energy support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools, and hospitals across the West Country.

In April the Conservatives are planning to hike the energy price guarantee by £500 by changing the existing Energy Price Guarantee – which caps the cost of a unit of energy.

The Liberal Democrats’ proposals would mean that in Devon the average household would be over £450 better off. In total, homes across Devon would save a £71million under the Lib Dem proposal.

Richard Foord MP has warned that allowing the price of energy to rise yet again in April will be a “hammer blow” to families and businesses who have only just managed to limp through the winter, and that action is needed now to save people from a “cost of living cliff-edge.”

Nationally, the Liberal Democrats have set out their plan to tackle the energy crisis including:

• A windfall tax on oil and gas companies to raise billions of pounds.
• A cancellation of the Government’s £500 energy bill rise in April.
• A one-off bonus tax on oil and gas executives.
• Doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.
• A U-turn on plans to slash energy bill support for businesses, leisure centres, schools, and hospitals by 85%, and instead to extend current levels of support for another six months.

Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord said:
“The Conservatives’ plan to allow energy bills to surge yet again in April will come as a hammer blow to people across Devon who are already struggling and have seen their rent, mortgage, shopping bills, and taxes rise.

“This out-of-touch Government has no clear long-term plan to deal with this cost of living crisis that is continuing to weigh down on people and businesses across our towns and villages. Their actions are simply making things worse.

“People need real support and that’s what the Liberal Democrats are calling for. Sadly, to add insult to injury, Rishi Sunak is happy for energy bosses to rake in millions of pounds in bonuses, all while families struggle to put food on the table or heat their homes.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey added:
“Rishi Sunak must act now to save families from a cost-of-living cliff edge, by cutting energy bills, instead of increasing them. People deserve a fair deal - with a cut to their energy bills, paid for by a proper windfall tax and a one-off levy on the bonuses of oil and gas bosses.”