Following the Treasury’s announcement on energy bills today, Luke said: 

“The government confirmed today -after months of excuses and inaction – that they’re finally adopting Labour’s proposals to help people struggling to afford every-higher energy bills.

“Government have finally been dragged kicking and screaming to this solution, something Labour has been suggesting for nearly five months. Why has it taken them so long?

“While they’ve been dithering around, oil and gas producers have made $4.7bn in profit. Families have forked out an astronomical £16.5bn in energy bills. Inflation has spiralled to nine percent and too many people have fallen into poverty.

“The government also listened to Labour and, finally, scrapped the £200 loan for energy bills. This will now be a grant, as it always should have been.

“But Ministers should have gone further. They should have cut VAT on fuel bills and brought non-doms, who escape paying their fair share, into the tax system.

“People in Plymouth are facing real difficulties in the cost-of-living crisis. Today’s announcement was overdue, but a welcome step. Who knew all they needed was the Sue Gray report to be published for them to act? What a co-incidence!”