Scottish families would save £2.6 billion by paying “not a penny more” for household energy this winter, Labour’s Rachel Reeves has claimed.
Ahead of a vist to Scotland, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor said the party’s plan to stop bills rising over the winter would save the average household in Scotland £1,000 and get energy costs under control.
Labour’s £29 billion UK-wide plan would freeze the energy price cap which is due to rise to £3,549 in October and pay for it with an extra tax on oil and gas giants who are making eye-watering profits.
The party’s plan also includes price freezes for all off-grid homes in Scotland which rely on heating oil or bottled gas.
With warnings that over 70 per cent of households in Scotland could be in fuel poverty come January, Labour produced figures showing how a target constituency like Rutherglen and Hamilton West would receive £49 million from Labour’s plan while households in Airdrie and Shotts could save £39 million.
Reeves said: “Families across Scotland are scared about how they’ll get through the winter with bills through the roof.”
“Scotland is being failed by two absent governments. The Tories are missing in action while the SNP are acting more like commentators than a government.”
“Labour’s plan to save households in Scotland £1,000 this winter and invest in sustainable British energy to bring bills down in the long-term is a direct response to the national economic emergency that is leaving families fearing for the future.”
Labour’s package also cancels out the premium penalty for customers using prepayment meters to pay for their energy.
Prepayment customers, often those on the lowest incomes, will get an additional £300 compared to Direct Debit customers as part of Labour’s plan.
Reeves also called on the SNP government to use the powers they have to enact Anas Sarwar’s proposals for an Emergency Cost of Living Act using devolved powers to provide urgent help.
She said: “Scottish Labour have set out how the SNP government can use the powers they have now deliver an Emergency Cost of Living Act to help people through this crisis.
“Labour’s fully-funded plan would fix the problems immediately and for the future – helping Scottish people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy.”
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