SCOTLAND'S Social Justice Secretary has urged MSPs to “speak with one voice” in calling on the UK Government to reduce energy bills.
Ahead of taking office, Labour said it would seek to bring annual costs down by up to £300 by 2030.
But, since the party took over, the annual energy price cap has gone up, with a further rise to £1849 to take effect from next month.
Speaking ahead of a debate on energy bills in Holyrood on Tuesday, Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged MSPs to join together and call on the UK Government to bring down costs, claiming a failure to meet the target would “fatally undermine any credibility of the UK Government has left in Scotland”.
“We know that families across Scotland are still struggling with the cost of living crisis – and the latest hike in the energy price cap is the last thing people need during tough times,” she said.
“Labour came to office on the back of big promises to cut energy bills by £300 – instead, energy bills are going up. In energy rich Scotland, it is simply not acceptable to see bills continuing to soar.
“The Scottish Parliament today has the opportunity to speak with one voice and call for the UK Government to keep its promise and deliver urgent progress on meeting their energy bills pledge.
“£300 goes a long way for working families – and Keir Starmer now needs to ensure that money is put back in people’s pockets.
“The UK Labour Government’s time in office has been defined by their growing list of broken promises – with Scottish Labour meekly falling into line.
“Continuing to break their promises on energy bills will fatally undermine any credibility the UK Government has left in Scotland.
“People in Scotland should not be paying the price for the Prime Minister’s failures.”
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie (below) said the Scottish Government had to “step up” and improve energy efficiency.
“With bills soaring, it is vital that we transform the way we heat our homes. That means making it easier and cheaper for people to do the right thing,” he said.
“Pointing out the many things Labour is doing badly is the easy part, we also need to take steps here in Scotland.
“By improving home insulation and hugely expanding the use of clean energy like heat pumps and heat networks, we can have warmer and greener homes that are cheaper to heat and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
“But it won’t happen by itself. It needs the Scottish Government to step up, act decisively and show the clear leadership that has been lacking.”
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said people of the UK have “paid the price” for the usage of fossil fuels, and are in turn “sprinting” towards cleaner energy sources.
They said: “Every family in the country has paid the price of Britain’s dependence on global fossil fuel markets.
“That is why we are sprinting to clean, homegrown energy, so the UK can take back control of its energy with cleaner, affordable power.
“As shown by independent analysis from the National Energy System Operator, clean power by 2030 is achievable, and can create a cheaper, more secure energy system.
“Our Clean Power Action Plan provides the foundation for the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.”
