Keir Starmer has demanded an early recall of the Commons to tackle soaring energy bills as Labour warned the country is “on the brink” of a winter crisis. The Labour party has written to caretaker Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as well as the two Tory leadership contenders, in a plea to recall MPs to thrash out a plan to freeze the expected hike in power bills.
The call for MPs to return two weeks early on August 22 echoes an earlier demand by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and comes ahead of the announcement of the new energy price cap at the end of the month.
Labour said the price cap announcement from the energy regulator Ofgem was a “crucial deadline” for government action. Earlier this week, Starmer has unveiled a “fully costed” £29 billion plan to freeze the cap at the current level of £1,971 for six months from October, saving the average household £1,000.
Government Ministers have said they have prepared “options” for the incoming Prime Minister, who will be appointed in early September, with Tory frontrunner Liz Truss saying she will table an emergency budget within weeks. But Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, told Johnson that the country faces an “urgent choice” and that with inflation at 10.1 per cent action is needed now.
She said: “Across Britain, people are having to make unthinkable choices about how to pay their bills, causing endless worry for households and businesses. That is why I am writing to you today to urge you to bring parliament back early on Monday August 22 so that we can freeze the energy price cap now ahead of winter."
She added: “In seven days, Ofgem will announce the rise of the energy price cap. Against the backdrop of a rise in inflation to 10.1 per cent, this will create another shock for our economy. With businesses and households on the brink, we cannot wait to act.
“Families deserve a government that is on their side, and is ready to take the action needed now to meet the scale of this national emergency. I urge you to adopt Labour’s plan and take action to freeze the price cap now.”
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