THE Tory leadership contenders have been accused by the SNP of a “shameful” failure to set out plans on how to help households with rising energy bills.
The criticism comes after warnings annual average costs could hit £3850 after Russia further squeezed Europe’s gas supplies, with the average bill potentially soaring to around £500 by January.
Details of the UK Government’s energy bills support scheme have also emerged, with a £400 grant to be paid in six monthly instalments of £66 and £67, applied to bills from October.
Meanwhile companies in the global energy industry have seen their profits soar, it was also revealed last week.
Shell’s adjusted earnings hit nearly £9.5 billion for the second quarter of the year.
Centrica, which owns British Gas, saw its half-year profits increase five-fold to £1.3bn, with the profit hike driven by the firm’s nuclear and oil and gas business.
Critics say more needs to be done to help households, warning that only “trivial” pledges have been made so far by Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss.
Last week, consumer champion Martin Lewis said the Boris Johnson’s “zombie government” is failing to address the crisis and warned decisions on support cannot be delayed until the Prime Minister’s successor is in office.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said both candidates were prioritising “internal Tory squabbles” over helping vulnerable households.
He said: “Whilst households across Scotland – and the rest of the UK – face the deeply worrying news that energy bills could rise to almost £4000 by the end of the year, the two contenders to be the next UK prime minister have been arguing over who will take a more extreme line on Brexit and who back-stabbed Boris Johnson.
“Details of the Energy Bill Support Scheme were released this week, showing households will receive the £400 grant in six instalments from October.
“Whilst any financial support for energy bills is welcome, 60-odd pounds a month for six months will barely scrape the sides for those on low-incomes who could face a monthly energy bill of half a grand next year.”
Blackford said more targeted support was urgently needed.
“The Tory government has numerous options in their toolbox, such as reinstating the Universal Credit uplift and increasing it to £25, uprating benefits as the Scottish Government has done, and bringing in a Real Living Wage to ensure those on the lowest incomes can at least afford the basics,” he said.
“It could also increase the energy bill grant for those on the lowest incomes.
“The Tories are making a political choice, they are choosing not to.
“The only way to properly support households in Scotland and escape the callous Westminster Tories and PMs we do not vote for is by becoming an independent country.”
Last week, Lewis, of the Money Saving Expert website, said households will start receiving notice of increased bills before the Tory leadership concludes, ahead of the energy price cap rising to £3500 or more in October.
He added: “The problem is we have this zombie government at the moment that can’t make any big decisions.
“People will be panicking, it will be desperate.
“By September 5, when we have a new prime minister, we will already be absolutely in the mire of this.”
THE pledges to cut green levies or remove VAT promised by Truss and Sunak respectively during their leadership bids are “trivial” in the face of bills which are set to be £2300 a year higher than they were last October, he added.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lewis called for Johnson, Truss and Sunak to agree a package they can unite around to address the issue now.
“Please, go and sit in a room together, make a collective decision now of what help you can give and make an announcement to forestall the mental health damage that is coming across the country,” he said.
