People reacted to the shock resignation of Liz Truss in different ways - a 12-year-old girl with cerebral palsy could not help smiling when she heard news of the Prime Minister's departure. This is despite fears the family's energy bills could rise to over £17,000.
Freya Hunter, 12, suffers from severe cerebral palsy and needs daily nursing care and oxygen machines. She is non-verbal but when she was watching BBC News footage of Liz Truss resigning, she broke out in a smile - which her mum described as "poignant".
Mum-of-four Carolynne Hunter, 49, works 45 hours a week and is paying out £505 per month on energy bills currently - although she was been warned they will likely rise to £600. Single mum Carolynne was delighted when Liz Truss resigned as PM, and said Freya smiled when she heard the news.
Carolynne said her other daughter Katie, 19, who also lives at home, stays warm by cuddling their dog on the sofa. The family live in a 300-year-old home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, which is not energy efficient.
Clackmannanshire Council's Energy Advice Service warned if the energy cap rose by 88 per cent in January, the energy bill would reach £17,700, before the Energy Price Guarantee was announced which will end in April. Carolynne said: "I'm glad that Liz Truss has resigned, Freya was smiling when she heard the news.
"She is non-verbal, it was really poignant. Other countries are coming up with solutions.
"What are we doing? Having big fights in Parliament and squabbling.
"I will probably get into debt the longer this goes on. I actually felt safer in the pandemic than I do now.
"Freya was a high-risk shielder. She wasn't allowed to go anywhere for two years.
"I felt safer then caring for Freya than I do now. My life depends on who is going to be the next prime minister and sort this out.
"Come April, our energy bill will be £17,700. It is £6,500 at the moment.
"That's £1,400 a month. I don't have that money.
"Scottish Power are wanting to increase direct debit payments to £600 from £505 but I've not got the money. It's just unbelievable.
"Freya's bedroom is the only room in the house which is heated, I can't have her cold. The people looking after her have got to be able to do their jobs.
"I've got nurses in all the time, 24/7. I've got to pay the rent and council tax as well.
"Then I've got to feed Katie, Freya and myself. There is nothing that I can cut back on.
"Our house is 300 years old, it's not energy efficient. Our bills were high anyway, we live in freezing conditions."
