SNP call on MPs to 'force' Labour to reduce energy bills by £300

THE SNP will challenge the Labour Government to slash energy bills by at least £300 — as pledged in the election — as the GB Energy Bill progresses through committee today.

An SNP amendment, tabled by Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, would force the UK Government to regularly update parliament on the progress it is making on lowering energy bills.

The is hoped to pile pressure on Keir Starmer to deliver the election pledge he made to reduce bills by at least £300, which Labour Government ministers have sought to backtrack on since the election.

The move follows bills rising by 10% this winter, despite Labour’s pledge to reduce bills.

It comes after GB Energy's chair Juergen Maier was unable to provide any detail on when bills may fall as a result of GB Energy.

Under questions from Flynn, the GB Energy boss could not provide a timescale on the delivery of the Labour Party’s principal campaign pledge. During the election, Starmer said the new body would collaborate with councils, communities and the private sector to bring down energy costs.

Flynn has lodged a series of amendments to the legislation passing through committee on Thursday.

One would result in GB Energy revenues generated from Scottish resources invested back into Scottish projects, with an additional requirement put in place for the Scottish Parliament to consent on GB Energy legislation.

Commenting ahead of the committee session today, Flynn (below) said: “The Labour Party promised voters it would slash energy bills, but instead they cut the Winter Fuel Payment and sat on their hands as bills soared by 10% this autumn.

(Image: PA) “Far from cutting bills by £300, as they promised, they’ve taken £300 of energy bill support away from around 900,000 Scottish pensioners and left millions of households worse off. As Labour ministers backtrack on their promises, the SNP amendment will pile pressure on them to honour the pledge and slash bills.

"MPs have the chance to force lower bills and I urge them to do so when our amendment comes before committee. I hope Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour MPs will back this amendment and not break yet another election pledge.

“The SNP will always put Scotland’s interests first and that includes ensuring that profits from our vast natural resources are used to benefit people who live here through lower bills and investment – that is exactly what we will do this week.”