Save families in Bedford Borough from £500 energy bill rise in April

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are demanding the Government cancel plans to hike the average household energy bill by £500 in April and bring in a tax on the bonuses of oil and gas bosses. The party is calling for cuts to people's bills instead, combined with a new energy support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals across Bedford Borough.

In April the Conservatives are planning to hike the energy price guarantee by £500 for the typical household. The Liberal Democrats plans to set the energy price guarantee at a much lower level would mean that in Bedford Borough the average household would be £465 better off. In total Bedford Borough would save a huge £33 million.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats say that new price hikes will be a "hammer blow" to families and businesses already struggling and that action is needed now to save people from a "cost of living cliff-edge."

Nationally, the Liberal Democrats have set out their plan to tackle the energy crisis including:

1. A windfall tax on oil and gas companies to raise billions of pounds
2. A cancellation of the Governments £500 energy bill rise in April
3. A one-off bonus tax on oil and gas executives
4. Doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.
5. A U-turn on plans to slash energy bill support for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals by 85%, and instead extend current levels of support for another six months.

Portfolio Holder for Adult Services Councillor Dean Crofts said "The Conservatives' plan to hike energy bills in April will come as a hammer blow to residents already struggling with soaring mortgages and rents, shopping bills and tax rises. With no plan to deal with this cost of living crisis for people or businesses, this chaotic, out-of-touch Government is instead making it much worse because they just don't get it. People need real support and that's what the Liberal Democrats are calling for. Sadly, to add insult to injury Rishi Sunak is happy for energy bosses to rake in millions of pounds in bonuses, while families struggle to put food on the table or heat their homes. People deserve a fair deal - with a large cut to their energy bills, paid for by a proper windfall tax and a one-off levy on the bonuses of oil and gas bosses."