Conservative Party members have decided.  It’s Liz Truss who is off to see the Queen as she becomes our new Prime Minister.  But time is running out for millions of British families who are facing unaffordable energy price hikes currently scheduled for October.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Ofgem have approved an eye-watering £1,578 rise to energy bills.  The new Prime Minister has just three weeks to act.  People simply will not be able to pay their bills.  Liz Truss must scrap this price hikes and step in to protect British families.”

Ofgem’s decision to raise bills will take the average gas and electricity bill from £1,971 to £3,549 each year – a rise of 80%.

Councillor Sykes said, “If things stay as they are, people will be paying three times as much for their energy this October compared with last year.  People are also being hit by soaring inflation and the rising cost of the weekly shop.  The government cannot just sit on their hands.  The only responsible way forward is for the Prime Minister to protect British people by scrapping the October price hikes, stepping in and covering the costs.  Her government must not choose to abandon people during this crisis.”   

Liz Truss will have an early opportunity to tackle runaway energy bills this week, when a bill to scrap the October price hikes is set to be put forward by Liberal Democrats in Parliament. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Liberal Democrats have drafted a Bill to freeze energy bills, which could be brought in on day one by the new Prime Minister.  Liz Truss must make it their first act to cancel this eye-watering energy price rise, to save millions of families from being plunged into poverty.”