During a fiery PMQs in Parliament on Wednesday (April 27), Prime Minister Boris Johnson blasted Labour-run Nottingham City Council for investing in what he called a "communist energy company". Discussing the upcoming local elections on May 5, the Prime Minister referenced a number of Labour-run local authorities which have faced financial hardship.
Describing Labour administrations as "bankrupt shambles", he mentioned Nottingham City Council's investment in Robin Hood Energy. That was a failed energy company which lost taxpayers an anticipated £38m when it went into administration in 2020. However, despite the PM's claims of the city council being bankrupt, this is not the case, as confirmed by the city council.
A fresh investigation into Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes accounts has found another £24m worth of Nottingham council housing rents could have been wrongly spent, which comes after the local authority 'unlawfully' spent more than £15m on the wrong services. Mr Johnson's remarks came after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Conservative party have had their "heads in the sand" through the cost of living crisis, saying that Labour would "ask oil and gas companies to pay their fair share and reduce energy costs" and urged people to vote Labour in the upcoming local elections.
