Ed Davey: Save families in Scotland from April energy price hike

On his visit to Scotland, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is demanding the UK Government cancel plans to hike the average household energy bill by £500 in April.

The party is calling for cuts to peoples' bills instead, combined with a new energy support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals across Scotland. This would be paid for with a tougher windfall tax on the “bonanza bonuses” of oil and gas bosses.

The party leader, who is visiting Parliamentary target seat East Dunbartonshire and Wendy Chamberlain’s North East Fife seat before attending the Scottish Lib Dem conference, is also calling on the Scottish Government to ramp up home insulation.

The Liberal Democrats plans would mean that in Scotland the average household would be £310.60 better off. In total, Scottish families would save a huge £766 million.

The Scottish Lib Dems are also calling on the Scottish Government to launch an emergency nationwide insulation programme. This would bring down bills, create jobs and put a stop to Scotland missing its climate change targets.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey MP said:

“People in Scotland are struggling with soaring energy bills now more than ever.

“The chaotic Conservative government in Westminster is failing millions of people by refusing to commit to more support. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government have failed to back Liberal Democrats calls to launch an emergency home insulation programme.

“With no plan to deal with this cost-of-living crisis for people, both out-of-touch governments are making the energy crisis so much worse.

“People need real support and that’s what the Liberal Democrats are calling for - a cut to energy bills and a plan to insulate people’s homes.

“Sadly, neither the Conservatives nor the SNP seem interested in tackling this crisis on our doorstep.”