CAMPAIGNERS from across Scotland will join forces today for a protest outside Ofgem’s Glasgow offices, demanding action to tackle rises to household bills.
With Ofgem due to announce the new energy price cap this morning, politicians, academics and campaigners from across Scotland will later join in the city, calling for an immediate price freeze on energy bills, an end to late payment fees by the big energy companies and an end to prepayment meters.
Last week, research showed that 72% of Scottish households are expected to be living in fuel poverty by January 2023.
Protest organisers Power To The People have called on the public in Glasgow and across Scotland to challenge the UK Government and companies charging extortionate bills as the cost of living crisis mounts.
Activist Jess Galloway said: “One household in fuel poverty is too many, but three in every four households? That’s a provocation.
“We all need to turn our words into actions and come together because this is a fight we can’t afford to lose.”
Elsewhere, the SNP have warned the Tory Government that they will be to blame for pushing people into poverty and putting traders out of business, unless it scraps the energy price cap rise.
Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Westminster was “making the case for independence” by refusing to use its powers to tackle the crisis.
The SNP renewed calls for Parliament to be recalled so the price cap rise can be blocked and emergency budget support can be delivered.
Blackford said: “The UK’s soaring energy costs are unaffordable and unsustainable. The UK Government must stop sitting on its hands, recall Parliament and take action. Westminster is failing families and making the case for independence.”
SNP energy spokesperson Alan Brown added: “Boris Johnson could salvage some of his damaged reputation by scrapping the energy price cap rise as one of his final acts in office.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) has proposed steps to be taken by both the UK and Scottish Governments to prevent any more “unsustainable rises” in the price cap.
The SSC urges Holyrood to provide a relief package, similar to the Covid packagea restriction on any policies that increase business costs for the rest of parliament and a pause on taxes. The SCC also recommends Westminster cut VAT to 5%, introduce an energy price cap and offer an emergency grant.
SSC chief executive Liz Cameron said “The scale of the crisis has reached a tipping point and with so many on the brink, we simply cannot afford any more inaction.”
It comes as Citizens Advice Scotland warned people will be awaiting the price capannouncement with dread. “with a feeling of dread”.
Chief executive Derek Mitchell said: “What [we] are seeing is increasing amounts of people hanging on by their fingertips. They cannot afford another huge increase in bills.”
“It’s the summertime – what are people supposed to do when temperatures drop but bills keep rising? People will freeze or starve without urgent help.
“We need to see a pandemic level response from government. That means targeted support for the most vulnerable people and for advice services like CABs.”
