News Hub Group

News Menu

SNP call on Starmer to step in to prevent £279 energy bill hike 

With concerns growing over predictions that the energy cap will rise in April, the SNP have called on Starmer to prevent further increases in the price of energy bills.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn - Image: House of Commons
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn - Image: House of Commons

Want to be notified of stories we publish? Enter your email below

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

The move comes as Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, warned on X that predictions from major players in the energy industry such as EDF, British Gas and EON all warned of rises to the energy price cap. The EDF predicted that the price cap would rise by 3.3% whereas British Gas and EON warned of higher rises of 5% and 5.7% respectively.

Whilst uncertainty remains about how the price cap may change, Martin Lewis, did confirm that as the assessment period comes to an end it is becoming pretty certain that there will be increases and that the ‘big question’ is by how much.

In response the SNP has hit out at Starmer’s government challenging the Prime Minister to “step in and stop energy bills rising for the third time on the Labour government’s watch”. This comes amid warnings that prices could increase by £109 in April, despite having already risen twice in October and January. 

The SNP has criticised Labour given that during the election, the Labour Party promised voters that it would cut household energy bills by £300, however, since the election they have risen by £170 and are now expected to rise further adding to the financial pressures many are facing across the UK in the middle of the current cost of living crisis.

How have the energy price cap and costs changed since the Labour government came to power ?

When Labour took office, the energy price cap for a typical household using both electricity and gas and paying by direct debit stood at £1,568. In October, this rose by 10% to £1,717, followed by a further 1.2% increase in January to £1,738. From April, the cap is expected to rise again, ranging between £1,784 and £1,847 per year. Forecasts for the remainder of the year indicate that prices will remain high, with the possibility of further increases.

Therefore if the highest predictions were right for the next increase then energy prices will have risen by £279 nearly the same amount that Starmer promised his party would cut them by.

GB energy boss Juergen Maier faced this question in his first major TV interview, Sky News’ Scotland Correspondent Connor Gillies questioned Maier on when this key election pledge would be met, however he responded that it wasn’t in the remit of GB energy.

SNP puts pressure on Starmer to respond to warnings of price increases 

The SNP’s Economy spokesperson Dave Doogan today addressed a letter to Starmer criticising him for his inaction on the election pledge: 

Dave Doogan MP (Angus and Perthshire Glens, Scottish National Party) © House of Commons

“During the election, the Labour Party promised voters you would cut energy bills by £300. Instead energy bills have risen by £170 under the Labour government – and there are now growing warnings that they will rise again in April as much as £109 more”

Doogan urged the Prime Minister to act arguing that if he failed to “the total increase in energy bills could be a staggering £279 – almost the polar opposite of what you promised”

The Economy Spokesperson was also keen to highlight the impact that this is having on people in Scotland arguing that despite “Scotland being an energy-rich country under the Labour government families are being forced to pay among the highest electricity prices in Europe. It’s shameful”.

He also raised concerns in the letter about the economy as a whole highlighting the poor state of the economy under the Labour government arguing that “there are significant fears the UK faces stagflation – a toxic combination of higher prices, rising unemployment and stagnant economic growth”

The SNP argued that this was another of one of Labour’s broken promises arguing that trust in Westminster was decreasing as “pensioners have had their winter fuel payments slashed, WASPI women have been denied compensation, and thousands of Scottish children are being pushed into poverty by the Labour government’s two child benefit cap”

It’s clear that the SNP shares the frustration and concern of many Brits as warnings of higher energy prices are expected to squeeze families further. This is also something the Prime Minister will have to face today as he returns to the House of Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions. 

As rises in energy prices loom and satisfaction in the Prime Minister’s government falls, this will be a challenging issue he and his government will have to contend with.

Follow Politics UK

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments