Government officials deliberating on whether to launch a public campaign to reduce energy usage this winter may want to avert their eyes from the reaction to last week’s heatwave advice. As temperatures soared, government and health agencies advised Britons how to remain safe in the heat. Twitter users’ response? A wave of terse comments. “The nanny state has spoken,” read one. “Most normal adults already know this,” snarked another.
While the country battles extreme heat, the debate in Westminster surrounds how to keep people warm this winter. The twin issues of soaring energy bills, which could top £3,000 by October, and the prospect of supply shortages caused by the invasion of Ukraine underpin the discussion. Industry watchers have called for government intervention, including more financial support after Rishi Sunak’s £15bn package laid out in May and official advice for consumers this winter.
