Thousands of households across Bridgwater and West Somerset have been denied an energy bill freeze by Conservative and Lib-Dem MPs. In a vote in the Commons, the coalition blocked Labour’s call to freeze energy bills until 2017, saving the average household £120.
The Bridgwater and West Somerset Tory, Ian Liddell-Grainger and Lib Dems from other Somerset constituencies were among those lining up against Labour’s proposal. Labour’s Candidate Cllr Mick Lerry said:
“Ian Liddell-Grainger had the chance to put the people of Bridgwater and West Somerset Constituency first and vote for a freeze on energy bills, but refused. Instead of supporting a freeze on prices that would help 45,979 households across our area struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, he ignored the issue once again.
“ David Cameron’s Tories have proved again that they only stand up for a privileged few.”
Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said:
“Yesterday’s vote in Parliament showed once again that the Government is determined to kick the problem of rip-off energy bills into the long grass.
“As the recent price freeze announcement from SSE showed, energy companies are now bringing forward precisely those reforms first proposed by Labour, and which the Government claimed was impossible
“A Labour Government will freeze your gas and electricity bills until 2017, and reform our broken energy market.”