Gideon Amos Slams Government Budget

Gideon Amos slams the Government’s plans to hike energy bills as “out of touch” and says they “appear to be on a different planet.”

Responding to the Spring Budget yesterday, Taunton and Wellington Liberal Democrats have condemned the Government's plans to increase energy bills.

It comes as Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that energy bills will remain at £2,500 for the next three months, meaning the typical household energy bill will be double what it was in April 2021.

The Chancellor also scrapped the £400 discount on bills which all households received this winter and failed to U-turn on plans to slash energy bill support for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals by 85%.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to cut the Energy Price Guarantee by £500 per household, funded through a proper windfall tax on the record profits of oil and gas companies. This would mean average bills would drop to £1,971 a year, with the support in place until next April.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling extra targeted support for the least well-off households, including doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.

Analysis from the Lib Dems based on official local electricity and gas consumption statistics show that households in Somerset West and Taunton would save an average of £294.94 each under the party's plans. This would mean total savings of £19,345,577 for local families.