Martin Lewis' stark energy bills message to Government as he warns of 'national act of harm'

Consumer champion Martin Lewis has called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to postpone an increase in April’s energy bills, warning the Government of the impact of high costs.

The Money Saving Expert founder described a planned hike as a “national act of harm” which could plunge another 1.7million into fuel poverty in the coming months. In a letter to the Chancellor, he added: "Postponing the increase is a practical and fair decision, with household energy bills already double what they were the prior winter.

"Crucially the damage to people’s pockets and mental health of another round of energy price rise letters is disproportionate." Under the Government's "energy price guarantee" typical bills are frozen at an average of £2,500 - but will soon become less generous.

Read More: Consumer expert Martin Lewis shares a way to beat upcoming rise in water bills with water meter

In November Jeremy Hunt announced the cap will be increased to £3,000 for the average household in April. There are also no plans by the Government to extend a £400 payment made available to all households across the country this winter, reports The Mirror.

Martin Lewis has written to the Chancellor to call for April's planned rise in the energy price guarantee to be scrapped. (PA)

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Mr Lewis said: "The nation is already shivering with the damage of the cost-of-living crisis and it just seems to me there is no need to do this. I would ask the Chancellor to postpone this rise."

He added: "We have effectively nationalised energy prices. This is the one price mechanism that is fully in the Government’s control and it is choosing to put it up on 1 April."

Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the personal finance expert "is right". She added: "We need to stop bills going up in April. That's why Labour would freeze energy prices - paid for by extending the one-off tax on energy companies making windfall profits from war."

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