Liz Truss has u-turned on her ‘no handouts’ commitment and promised immediate support for low income households facing the winter energy crisis.
The favourite to be Tory leader has now vowed to “deliver immediate support to ensure people are not facing unaffordable fuel bills” if she becomes Prime Minister on Monday.
The pledge in the Sun newspaper is a turn-around from her claims earlier in the leadership campaign that hand-outs were off the table to tackle rising energy costs.
There were no details in Truss’s promise but the move came as another energy industry boss warned that households will be hit by a “winter like never before” with people going hungry and cold unless the Government acts swiftly.
Steven Fitzpatrick, founder of Ovo Energy, proposed a ten-point plan for support which would be based on creating a government-backed fund which energy companies could borrow from to subsidise bills see.
The scheme is similar to that proposed by Scottish Power last week but support would taper off for high earners who use more electricity, meaning that homes with higher energy consumption would be charged at a higher price.
This would aim to prioritise support for poorer customers, since higher-income households use more energy, Fitzpatrick said.
Ministers have yet to take up this proposed solution to the energy crisis.
Downing Street has repeatedly said it is preparing to deliver an extra package, but only when the new Prime Minister comes into office.
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said on Thursday that he was “deeply concerned” people could freeze this winter, adding: “No one should be cut off because they can’t afford their bills.”
He said “nothing is off the table” and that he was looking at “all the options” to tackle soaring energy bills.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
READ NEXT:
