Labour demands recall of Parliament to freeze energy bills
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Labour has today (Friday) written to the Prime Minister and both
Tory leadership candidates demanding they bring back Parliament
early on Monday 22 August in order to freeze energy bills now for
the winter. The demand comes ahead of the new energy price
cap rise announcement next Friday (26 August) which Labour says is
a crucial deadline for government action to adopt the party’s plan
to freeze the rise. The party announced the plan to freeze the cap
on Monday –...Request free trial
Labour has today (Friday) written to the Prime Minister and both Tory leadership candidates demanding they bring back Parliament early on Monday 22 August in order to freeze energy bills now for the winter. The demand comes ahead of the new energy price cap rise announcement next Friday (26 August) which Labour says is a crucial deadline for government action to adopt the party’s plan to freeze the rise. The party announced the plan to freeze the cap on Monday – a measure that will need legislation in Parliament to enact. A recall to freeze the energy price cap would mean MPs returning to Parliament two weeks earlier than planned, on Monday 22 August, to begin legislating before the Ofgem rise announcement. With families already making impossible choices, it’s feared that the announcement in the rise in the energy price cap may push households and businesses over the edge, as they make extremely difficult decisions ahead of a tough winter – including cutting back even more now to pre-empt soaring prices and even deciding whether to keep businesses open. Against the backdrop of a rise in inflation this week to 10.1% Labour’s plan will also get inflation down. The party says there is no more time to waste to get a grip on the cost of living crisis, and secure our economy ahead of the winter. Labour’s fully-funded £29bn plan would prevent the energy price cap rising through the winter saving the average households £1,000 this winter, paid for by extra tax from oil and gas giants who are making eye-watering profits. The emergency package announced by Keir Starmer on Monday would reduce energy demand and lower bills in the longer term by insulating 19 million homes across the country over the next decade through Labour’s Warm Homes Plan. Thangam Debbonaire MP, Labour’s Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, wrote: “Across Britain, people are having to make unthinkable choices about how to pay their bills, causing endless worry for households and businesses. “That is why I am writing to you today to urge you to bring Parliament back early on Monday 22 August so that we can freeze the energy price cap now ahead of winter. “In 7 days, Ofgem will announce the rise of the energy price cap. Against the backdrop of a rise in inflation to 10.1%, this won’t just send households into a further spiral of worry, pushing them to cut back even further ahead of the winter. But it will create another shock for our economy. With businesses and households on the brink, we cannot wait to act. “Families deserve a government that is on their side, and is ready to take the action needed now to meet the scale of this national emergency. The government must adopt Labour’s plan and take action to freeze the price cap now.” ENDS Notes to editors:
1. Note on Labour’s energy price cap freeze announcement attached.
2. Letter to Prime Minister from the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons:
Across Britain, people are having to make unthinkable choices about how to pay their bills, causing endless worry for households and businesses. That is why I am writing to you today to urge you to bring Parliament back early on Monday 22 August so that we can freeze the energy price cap now ahead of winter. It has been a severe failure of your government and governance that we have been so deeply exposed to rising inflation and an energy crisis. The cost of living crisis has grown vastly in scale, which is why Labour has proposed the government should freeze the energy price cap this winter, to stop household energy bills going up and help bring inflation down. It’s a fully-costed plan that will save the average household £1,000 and will help right now. It’s also why we urge you to adopt at speed a long term plan for our energy security – starting with a national mission to insulate 19 million homes so that households can save money in the future too. We face an urgent choice. In 7 days, Ofgem will announce the rise of the energy price cap. Against the backdrop of a rise in inflation to 10.1%, this won’t just send households into a further spiral of worry, pushing them to cut back even further ahead of the winter. But it will create another shock for our economy. With businesses and households on the brink, we cannot wait to act. That is why I am urging you to back a recall of Parliament for Monday 22 August so that we can urgently begin the process of legislating for an energy price cap now. Families deserve a government that is on their side, and is ready to take the action needed now to meet the scale of this national emergency. I urge you to adopt Labour’s plan and take action to freeze the price cap now. There is no more time to waste. Regards, Thangam Debbonaire Shadow Leader of the House of Commons 3. Letter to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss from the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons: Dear Ms Truss and Mr Sunak, Across Britain, people are having to make unthinkable choices about how to pay their bills, causing endless worry for households and businesses. That is why I am writing to you both today to urge you to bring Parliament back early on Monday 22 August so that we can freeze the energy price cap now ahead of winter. It has been a severe failure of the government – in which you both played a central role – that we have been so deeply exposed to rising inflation and an energy crisis. The cost of living crisis has grown vastly in scale, which is why Labour has proposed the government should freeze the energy price cap this winter, to stop household energy bills going up and help bring inflation down. It’s a fully-costed plan that will help right now. It’s also why we urge you to adopt at speed a long term plan for our energy security – starting with a national mission to insulate 19 million homes so that households can save money in the future too. With you both campaigning to be the country’s next Prime Minister, it is crucial that you take responsibility now, and work with the sitting Prime Minister to start tackling this crisis now. We now face an urgent choice. In 7 days, Ofgem will announce the rise of the energy price cap. Against the backdrop of a rise in inflation to 10.1%, this won’t just send households into a further spiral of worry, pushing them to cut back even further ahead of the winter. It will also create another shock for our economy. With businesses and households on the brink, we cannot wait to act. That is why I am writing to you both today to urge you to back a recall of Parliament for Monday so that we can urgently begin the process of legislating for an energy price cap now. And I am also urging you to speak directly with the sitting Prime Minister to take action on this, and to do all you can to support a recall and the legislative process of freezing the energy price cap for this winter so we can get a grip on this exponential crisis. Families deserve a government that is on their side, and is ready to take the action needed now to meet the scale of this national emergency. I urge you to adopt Labour’s plan and take action to freeze the price cap now. There is no more time to waste. Regards, Thangam Debbonaire Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |