Labour criticises decade of ‘dither and delay’ on energy policy

The Labour Party has slammed the Conservatives for a decade of dither, delay and poor planning on Britain’s energy sector, urging for action to stop energy bills rising over the next year.

Labour says that the government has neglected the potential of British renewable and nuclear energy, whilst at the same time failing to make more homes warm and well-insulated, and properly regulating our energy market, leading to dozens of energy companies going bust.

To address the immediate crisis, Labour would bring in fully-funded measures now to reduce the expected price rise in April – saving most households around £200 or more, but targeted extra support to squeezed middle, pensioners and the lowest earners, receiving up to £600 off bills and preventing all of the increase in energy bills currently expected.

They would pay for this with a one-off windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas producers who have profited from price rises.

Rachel Reeves, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “There is a global gas price crisis, but 10 years of the Conservatives’ failed energy policy, and dither and delay has created a price crisis that’s being felt by everyone. We want to stop bills going up.

“That’s why Labour would give families security by taking fully-funded measures to save most households around £200 or more, targeting extra support on top of that for the squeezed middle, pensioners, and lowest earners.

“But we need more than a short-term fix. Labour’s plan to keep energy bills lower in future would see us accelerate home-grown renewables and new nuclear, retrofit 19 million homes to save households an average of £400 a year on their bills, and reform our broken energy system to stop energy companies playing fast and loose with the rules. The Tories have been asleep at the wheel, with hard-working people paying the price. Labour has a plan to fix this.”