, the SNP’s economy spokesperson, said:
It’s truly pathetic that the chancellor has failed to cut energy bills, despite having ample resources to do so. The Tories are ripping families off by keeping bills at such exorbitantly sky-high levels, with many families forced to pay three times what they paid a year ago. With energy companies making record profits, and the wholesale price of gas falling, there is no excuse for this shameful Tory decision, which will hammer household incomes and push even more families into poverty, hardship and debt.This does not go far enough. Instead of a sticking plaster for another three months, we need meaningful action now.
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the chancellor to cut energy bills by £500 per household. This would make a significant difference to households and the government can afford to do it, they are choosing not to.Updated at 09.26 GMTGood morning. Last year we had a series of huge fiscal announcements from the Treasury, as well as perhaps the most consequential “mini-budget” of all time , but we never an actual, proper budget. Today’s will be the first real once since autumn 2022.