Local Lib Dems call for cancellation of October's price cap increase

Lichfield & Burntwood Lib Dems say government must cancel October energy price rise to save families in Lichfield & Burntwood more than £92m

The Lichfield & Burntwood Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to spare families from soaring energy bills by cancelling October's price cap increase, accusing the Conservatives of "stalling in the face of a national emergency".

The Lichfield & Burntwood Liberal Democrats have also carried out research to show the scale of the emergency.

The bold plan would save a typical household in the Lichfield & Burntwood an extra £2124 a year. The 70% increase in the energy price cap expected to be announced by Ofgem later this month would be cancelled, with the Government instead paying the shortfall to energy suppliers so that they can afford to supply customers at the current rates.

This would mean a total estimated saving for households in the Lichfield and Burntwood area of £92m off their electricity and gas bills.

The Liberal Democrats say the estimated £36 billion cost should be met by expanding the windfall tax on oil and gas company profits, and using the Government's higher-than-expected VAT revenues as a result of soaring inflation.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Ray said:

"Hard-working families in our area are already struggling to make ends meet, and are deeply concerned about how they will cope with the predicted rise in energy bills.

"This Conservative Government is stalling in the face of a national emergency and, yet again, is simply not doing enough to put money back in the pockets of hard-working people.

"Countless families and pensioners across Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages are already struggling, and they cannot wait for a new Conservative leader to act.

"This is an emergency, and the Government must show compassion and step in now to help families and pensioners by cancelling the planned rise in energy bills this October."