Over 9,000 local households "abandoned"

Official data has revealed that more than 9,000 off-grid households in Taunton and Wellington are being "abandoned" by the Government as the conflict in Iran drives up costs.

Our MP, Gideon Amos, has today called for urgent intervention to protect rural households from skyrocketing heating oil prices.

He wants the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to take immediate action after she admitted there has been “price gouging” in the heating oil market - with companies using the crisis in Iran to inflate prices.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Ed Davey, also challenged Keir Starmer at Prime Minister‘s Questions two weeks running to guarantee households that they will be protected from price rises caused by President Trump‘s action in Iran.

The Lib Dems are calling for an initial three-month zero-rating for VAT on heating oil for all residential homes – according to House of Commons Library data, an estimated 9,370 households in Taunton and Wellington are off the gas grid.

These residents, who rely on heating oil, are currently excluded from the Ofgem energy price cap, leaving them fully exposed to market volatility caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The party has also called on the Government to develop a mechanism to shield off-grid families from sudden price surges, to provide them with similar protection to the energy price cap.

For the long term, following a proposal made by Gideon at its conference, the party has established a policy to cut energy bills in half, achieved in part by breaking the link between gas and electricity prices.

The policy also includes an emergency upgrade of homes to make them cheaper to heat, starting with free insulation for those on low incomes, and ensuring all new homes meet energy efficiency and zero-carbon standards.

Gideon said: “Energy bills are already too high which is why we've set out plans to cut them in half.

“Now Trump's unlawful war against Iran could cost households even more.

“Already families in Taunton and Wellington who rely on heating oil are facing big price increases.

“They don't benefit from the energy price cap so need help now and must be given VAT zero-rated oil so they aren't left to face this price shock on their own.

“Our Liberal Democrat call for an immediate three-month zero-rating for VAT on heating oil for all residential homes is key for protecting rural households.

"The Chancellor can see rocketing bills are already hurting personal finances – she needs to listen to the Lib Dem proposal and act now."