Labour has called for an immediate halt to the “shameful” forced installation of prepay gas and electricity meters, with the shadow climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, accusing the government of a “dereliction of duty” and demanding extra financial support for struggling households.
The opposition wants a three-month moratorium on the installations – which are typically made when customers rack up debts with their energy supplier – and it has asked for an “urgent review of how energy vulnerability can be reduced”.
