Boris Johnson today cruelly refused to U-turn and give more help with skyrocketing energy bills hitting Brits next month.
The Prime Minister said "a U turn is the last thing we want" despite prices exploding - and the Ukraine-Russia war risking October bringing a rise of £1,000 a year.
Mr Johnson said he will announce a long-term energy security plan within days to wean the UK off Russian oil - though not gas - by the end of this year.
In a rowdy PMQs, the Tory leader strongly indicated it will include new nuclear power stations. He said: "What we are junking is the failed energy policies that left us without enough nuclear power."
But these take years to build and Keir Starmer said the situation will be a "total mess" within weeks. Hours earlier, food poverty campaigner Jack Monroe warned the cost of living crisis will prove "fatal" for some families.
The PM boasted he was giving most families a £150 council tax discount next month, followed by a £200 bills discount for all families in October which must be paid back over five years.
But energy bills are rising £693 a year in April alone, followed by another rise in October. Inflation is also soaring, National Insurance is rising and income tax and student loan repayment thresholds are being frozen.
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When Rishi Sunak announced the energy bills help he hoped there would be a spike in prices that came down by next Spring.
But two Tory sources told the Mirror they fear that is now unlikely due to the ongoing effects of the war.
Despite this, it's understood the Chancellor is not planning to announce major tax or spending changes in his Spring Statement on March 23.
Keir Starmer said the “big gamble behind that policy” of the £350 in bills help "now looks almost certain to fail".
Labour's leader said the Chancellor doesn’t “understand the mess he’s in” and “the wholesale price of oil and gas is now ballooning”, meaning household bills could shoot up by another £1,000 in October.
He added: “It’s a total mess… when is the PM going to force the Chancellor to U-turn?"
Yet the PM tried to turn the question into a joke, saying: "If he’s asking for the Chancellor to U-turn on the support we’re giving to families and households I think he’s absolutely out of his mind!"
Mr Johnson boasted he was taking “unprecedented measures” to “abate council tax by £150” in addition to “all the other schemes”.
He added: “I will be setting out an energy independence plan for this country in the course of the next few days.
“To ensure we undo some of the damage of previous decisions taken, not least by the Labour government, not to invest in nuclear, so what we prepare our people for the long term and a sustainable, cost-efficient energy supply”.
Other MPs including the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson demanded action, while Labour MP Grahame Morris demanded to know why in France EDF has had price rises to domestic customers capped at 4% - but in the UK it can raise prices by 54%.
Labour's leader said energy giants had previously announced “bumper profits” with BP making £9.5bn and Shell £14bn - “in their own words - more money than they know what to do with".
Demanding a windfall tax, he said: “When will the Prime Minister admit he’s got this badly wrong?” He also called for the nation to be "never again at the mercy of a dictator” and “supporting new nuclear after years of neglect”.
Yet Boris Johnson said a windfall tax would push oil firms to “put their prices up yet higher”.
Labour's leader shot back: “Protecting energy profits, not working people. Doesn’t that say it all?”
Tories jeered as Keir Starmer called for new nuclear power stations - as well as to "relax planning laws, end block on onshore wind, and stop supporting policies that make us so dependent on foreign gas."
The PM mocked Labour, saying “there is more joy in heaven over one sinner repented..." and “I’m delighted to welcome them now into the fold”.
He added: "Under the Labour government our nuclear output fell from I think about 25% to about 10% of our energy needs… it was because of the decisions they took."
Labour's leader retorted: “Come off it. Labour is pro nuclear. This Prime Minister can’t get a single brick laid of a new nuclear plant.”
Boris Johnson claimed we “only are dependent on Russian gas for 3% of our gas needs” and are the “Saudia Arabia of wind power, producing more offshore wind than virtually any other country in the world”.
The PM also repeated claims that have been repeatedly shown to be misleading or untrue, including “we’ve got the fastest growth in the G7”, and “If we’d listened to Captain Hindsight we’d have stayed in lockdown.”
