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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Nils Pratley

Soaring energy bills require pragmatism not political pipe dreams

a close-up of a person holding an energy bill
Liz Truss’s plan of reversing national insurance increases would hand the biggest benefit to higher earners. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Unconvinced by every politicians’ sketch of how to protect UK households from the soaring cost of energy this winter? It’s a reasonable view. There are holes in every plan we’ve heard so far.

Liz Truss’s preference for tax cuts and the removal of “green levies” is the worst of the lot as it doesn’t get close to recognising the size of the coming storm. Reversing national insurance increases hands the greatest benefit to high-earners. And cutting the odd £160 of charges on bills, or even VAT at 5%, is a case of tinkering around the edges if the average household is looking at an increase of £2,000. An encounter with reality awaits if she makes it to No 10.

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