Keir Starmer unveils Labour’s plan to solve UK energy crisis
Keir Starmer dominated headlines on Monday morning after unveiling a cost-defined approach to tackling the energy crisis set to affect millions across the UK this coming winter.
Through his plan:
- windfall tax cuts on energy companies will continue and be extended
- the profits will be used to fund the rising costs
- the energy price cap would be frozen at its current level until March 31 2023, eliminating any further rises in October
- investment in sustainable British energy will help ensure long term security for the UK
- £29bn will be paid to energy firms to cover the difference in freezing the price cap, and will funded by the increase in windfall tax, redirected government spending by halting currently proposed payouts since they will no longer be necessary following the price cap freeze (saving £14bn), and lowering government interest payments on debt (saving £7bn)
- Labour has said the plan would also reduce inflation
Neither Liz Truss nor Rishi Sunak have called for the energy price cap to be frozen. Truss has said she will remove green levies and cut National Insurance, and has not ruled out the possibility of emergency budget payouts in September; Sunak has pitched providing extra cost-of-living payments for pensioners and benefit claimants. and scrap the 5% VAT on energy bills. Both have been criticised for a lack of budgetary planning for the imminent price rises.
Monday’s headlines across the board reasonably acknowledged the energy crisis is of grave concern to the public overall, regardless of whether they vote Labour or Conservative, suggesting the best-case solution is ultimately what matters and an effective plan should be given due credit – as shown in a poll by centre-right The Times, for example (see below).
However, a spattering of publications that lean further right nonetheless continued to be critical of Starmer and his plan, or vouch support for their decided Tory candidate to distract from Labour’s announcement.
Three in four Tory voters back Labour’s energy bills plan
‘Radical’ Truss vows to reform crisis Britain
Daily Express, who fully endorsed Liz Truss on Sunday.
Starmer says his radical plan to freeze energy bills is needed to cut inflation
Labour’s plan to cut energy bills ‘may cost £60 billion’
- Upon reading the article, this number is taken out of context but effectively creates a sensationalist headline.
Keir Starmer heaps pressure on Tory would-be PMs to tackle cost-of-living crisis with £29BILLION vow to FREEZE energy bills for six months… but respected IFS think-tank warns of ‘illusion’ saying the policy might end up as big as furlough scheme
Keir Starmer calls for extra windfall tax to freeze energy bills
Keir Starmer’s £29billion emergency energy bills plan dubbed ‘illusion’ by IFS director
Keir Starmer Pushes Back Against Concerns Labour’s New Energy Plan Is An ‘Illusion’
Keir Starmer’s plan to freeze energy price cap ‘could cost as much as Covid furlough scheme’
Keir Starmer warns Brits ‘suffering every day’ as he unveils £29bn energy plans
