Oldham’ Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has demanded the Government cancel plans to hike the average household energy bill by £500 in April. Sykes, who represents Shaw and leads Oldham Council’s Opposition Group, says it’s time to tax the “billion-pound profits of energy companies to pay for real support for families.”
The Liberal Democrats calling for cuts to people’s bills combined with a new energy support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals across Oldham.
Councillor Sykes said, “In April the Conservatives are planning to hike the energy price guarantee by £500. The Liberal Democrats plan would mean that in Oldham, the average household would be £439 better off. We would save families more than £41,000 across the Borough.”
“If the government doesn’t change course, their new price hikes will be a hammer blow to families and businesses already struggling. Action is needed now to save people from a cost-of-living cliff-edge.”
Nationally, the Liberal Democrats have set out their plan to tackle the energy crisis including:
- A windfall tax on oil and gas companies to raise billions of pounds
- A cancellation of the Governments £500 energy bill rise in April
- A one-off bonus tax on oil and gas executives
- Doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.
- A U-turn on plans to slash energy bill support for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals by 85%, and instead extend current levels of support for another six months.