Millions of consumers will see their bills rocket when the energy regulator today announces a rise in the price cap – the mechanism that limits the maximum firms can charge customers for gas and electricity.
With big hikes in wholesale costs, the price rise will be passed on directly to the consumer just as we are being hit by soaring inflation, a real term cut in wages and a Tory government tax rise.
This avalanche of extra costs to every household will leave us all poorer – and millions on the breadline.
Boris Johnson has to act.
Even his own backbench MPs want to delay the National Insurance increase – and they are right to point out this is the wrong time for a tax rise that hits the working poor disproportionately hard.
But there are other things a decent government could do.
The warm homes heating grant could be increased, pension and child benefit allowances could be adjusted, public sector pay could be boosted.
But the Prime Minister cannot even find time to sit down with his chancellor to work out what to do.
Instead, he is far too busy firefighting the Downing Street party scandal he is responsible for.
The Tory Party has always been all about winning power for its own sake. As a political force, they will do anything to scratch, cheat and lie their way to the top.
But Johnson takes this lust for selfish gain to a new level.
Rather than do the decent thing and resign over his obvious failures as Prime Minister, he is engaged in a desperate – and self-absorbed – rear-guard action to shore up support among Tory MPs.
In the best of times, this would be a shoddy and unpleasant charade.
In the midst of today’s energy price hike and the cost of living crisis, it is an insult to every voter in the country.
Go on the a-tax
The cost of living crisis is rightly focused on solutions to help people pay their rising bills.
Cutting VAT on fuel and giving people on low incomes special payments are decent ideas the UK Government should be backing urgently.
At Westminster this week, Labour called for a windfall tax on the profits of North Sea oil and gas firms.
This is an excellent idea that would raise revenue and also send a signal about our commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
The SNP, disappointingly, did not vote for the plan – with some MPs making critical comments.
Scottish Labour will today force a vote on the windfall tax plan at Holyrood.
The SNP/Green Government should recognise policies have to be paid for and taxing big business is the correct course of action.
