Only in Britain could we end up with a situation where the poorest households have the highest energy bills.
This is because families on low incomes are more likely to be on pricy prepayment meters.
More than three million people last year could not afford to top up their meters, leaving them unable to heat or cook.
To make matters worse, even when they disconnect themselves to save money people are still liable for standing charges.
Instead of showing any understanding, the energy companies are forcing more and more people on to meters, and obtaining warrants so they can enter homes to fit the devices.
Last winter an estimated 45 people a day died because they could not afford to heat their homes.
They are the victims of a Government that has failed to support the most vulnerable, and continues to allow energy firms to get away with a form of heating apartheid.
Level with us
Rishi Sunak should not have been surprised at the backlash over the latest batch of funding for levelling up.
The Prime Minister yesterday toured the country like a feudal lord expecting gratitude for handing out alms to the poor.
Instead he only managed to draw attention to the paucity of the money on offer and the unfair way in which it was allocated.
Areas in desperate need were overlooked in favour of wealthier parts of the country.
And as with previous funding rounds, more money was directed towards Tory seats than Labour ones, in a shameless attempt to prop up the Government’s failing support.
Distribution should be decided at a local level not stitched up in Westminster.
Life savers
The process of putting defibrillators in all state schools in England begins today.
This is a welcome step forward in the Mirror’s public safety campaign. The more defibrillators, the more lives we can save.
