Nia Griffith MP slams decade of Tory failure on British energy prices

Llanelli MP, Nia Griffith today criticised the Conservatives for a decade of dither, delay and poor planning on Britain’s energy sector – as well as calling for a windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas to stop energy bills rising over the next year.

She pointed to the Tory UK Government’s failure to meet the vast potential of British renewable and nuclear energy and its failure to properly regulate our energy market, leading to dozens of energy companies going bust. The result is rapidly rising prices and an energy crisis hitting millions, including many families across Llanelli.

To address the immediate crisis, Labour are calling for fully-funded measures now to reduce the expected price rise in April – saving most households around £200 or more – and targeted extra support to the squeezed middle, pensioners and the lowest earners, receiving up to £600 off bills and preventing all of the increase in energy bills currently expected.

This would be paid for with a one-off windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas producers who have profited from the price rises.

Highlighting how crucial it is to keep energy bills lower in future, Labour have said they would:

Reduce Britain’s reliance on imported gas by accelerating home-grown renewables and new nuclear
Make sure millions more homes are warm and well-insulated, saving households an average of £400 a year on bills
Regulate the market better, with a pledge to never again let energy companies play fast and loose with the rules.

Nia Griffith said:

“Ten years of the Conservative’s failed energy policy, dither and delay has created a price crisis that’s being felt by people right here in Llanelli.

“That’s why Labour would give local families security by taking fully-funded measures to save most households around £200 or more, targeting extra support on top of that for the squeezed middle, pensioners and lowest earners.

“But we need more than a short-term fix.  Labour’s plan to keep energy bills lower in future would mean really speeding up investment in renewable energy, both to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and to tackle climate change, retro fit millions of more homes to save households an average of £400 a year on their bills, and reform our broken energy system.  It is only right, after all, that the energy producers benefitting from this crisis are asked to pay their fair share.”