Dozens of protestors descended on Ofgem's Glasgow office today after it was announced energy bills will soar again this October. Around 100 people waved placards and chanted outside Ofgem's Albion Street office in Commonwealth House at 4pm on Friday to protest against the rise in price cap.
The demonstration was organised by Glaswegian pressure group Power to the People who are calling for a freeze on energy prices. Earlier today Ofgem confirmed the price cap would increase from £1,971-a-year to £3,549 on October 1, meaning average household annual bills could rise by 80 per cent. The move has been met with widespread anger, as politicians and campaigners hit out.
Footage from the protest shows the group chanting 'freeze bills, not people' while holding a banner that urged 'power to the people'. Others chose to waive placards and trade union flags, with RMT, Unite and Unison supporters present.
One placard read "end this pain-fuel increase". While another ominously warned, "prices are rising and so are we."
Nicola Sturgeon has called for the energy price cap to be frozen, tweeting: "This is simply unaffordable for millions. It cannot be allowed to go ahead. This rise must be cancelled, with the UK gov and energy companies then agreeing a package to fund the cost of a freeze over a longer period, coupled with fundamental reform of the energy market."
Glasgow councillor, Matt Kerr said: “Make no mistake, if today's announcement goes ahead, it will plunge millions into fuel poverty this winter and crash the economy. People have had enough, and we refuse to tolerate the incompetence and indolence of our governments in the face of a crisis they have the power to solve.
"Those in government have a decision to make - do all in their power to reverse this, or accept responsibility for the destruction of lives that will follow. If government refuse to use their power, the people will use theirs.”
MSP Paul Sweeney branded the price hike a "humanitarian catastrophe" and warned people could freeze to death this winter. Scottish lawyer and activist Aamer Anwar added: "For many elderly and vulnerable people this will be a death sentence, as millions are plunged into fuel poverty."
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