Labour sets out proposals to freeze energy price cap and protect families

Scotland is being “failed by two absent governments”, Labour has claimed, as the party set out its plans to support households in the face of the cost of living crisis.

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will travel to Scotland on Wednesday where she will set out proposals to help protect families during the winter.

Under their policy ideas, Labour state that they would freeze the energy price cap through increased revenues from oil and gas producers.

They would also close a UK Government loophole in the energy profits levy and backdate the windfall tax to January.

By preventing the energy price cap rise, as well as taking measures to cancel the premium penalty for customers using pre-payment meters and reducing inflation, the average household in Scotland could save £1,000 in energy costs.

The energy price cap will rise from October. STV News

Ahead of her visit, Reeves accused the SNP of “acting more like commentators” than a government.

However, the SNP hit back and said that Labour had “stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tories”, and insisted that “actions speak louder than words”.

There is fear across the UK over the impact of the energy price cap rise, with average annual bills expected to reach more than £3,500.

“Families across Scotland are scared about how they’ll get through the winter with bills through the roof,” said Reeves.

“Scotland is being failed by two absent governments. The Tories are missing in action while the SNP are acting more like commentators than a government.

“Labour’s plan to save households in Scotland £1,000 this winter and invest in sustainable British energy to bring bills down in the long-term is a direct response to the national economic emergency that is leaving families fearing for the future.

“Scottish Labour have set out how the SNP government can use the powers they have now deliver an Emergency Cost of Living Act to help people through this crisis.

“Labour’s fully-funded plan would fix the problems immediately and for the future – helping Scottish people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy.

“Only Labour can give Britain the fresh start it needs.”

The SNP’s Treasury spokesperson Alison Thewliss argued that the plans set out by Labour “do not go nearly far enough” for families already struggling.

“Actions speak louder than words and if Labour want to be taken remotely serious on tackling the cost of living then they need to stop shouting from the side-lines whilst standing shoulder to shoulder with the Tories at every opportunity,” she said.

“These plans do not go nearly far enough for the thousands of families who are already suffering – the energy price cap rise needs to be cancelled immediately, not down the line when it will already be too late for thousands of households.

“Whilst the SNP Scottish Government is doing what it can with its limited powers – like spending £84m on the Scottish Child Payment – people across Scotland are being let down by the inaction of a broken, out of touch Westminster system which Labour is protecting at all costs.”