As energy firms bring in backdoor price rises, Westminster offers nothing but silence
by Westminster is failing hardworking families by staying silent – as energy companies prepare to hike prices through stealth.
From 1st April, the average amount we pay for gas and electricity looks set to fall, which will be presented as a win for the UK’s economy by the Westminster parties. This is because the unit rates are dropping, partially because we use less energy in the spring and summer months.
The reality is far grimmer.
The fall in unit prices is going to be offset by a substantial hike in the standing charge – the price you pay for simply having access to electricity.
The UK’s big six energy companies made over £3 billion in profit in the thick of the pandemic – the Big Issue’s analysis concluded that amounted to nearly £100 per second.
And things haven’t much improved.
Last year, it was reported that British Gas alone made nearly £1 billion
The retailer, the country’s largest energy supplier, disclosed profits of £969 million for the first six months of 2023 – a staggering increase of almost 900% from just £98 million during the same period in 2022.
If stagnant wages and falling living standards weren’t enough, Westminster now looks the other way as corporate bosses deliver another round of punishing price rises on a working people – many of whom are already stretched to breaking point.
The SNP Scottish Government has disclosed plans on how to provide affordable energy post-independence and has defied the constraints of devolution to invest record funding in sustainable energy sources.
Unlike the Tories’ and Labour’s plans, the SNP have repeatedly ensured that energy policy and the shift to a green economy can deliver for both working people and the regional economy of Scotland’s North East, which heavily depends on a thriving energy sector.
Despite Westminster’s woeful record, it is possible to have both a successful and flourishing energy sector and affordable prices for hardworking people. As in so many of our neighbouring democracies and in countries around the world, we don’t have to pacify business by punishing families.
Spiralling costs? Suppressed living standards? A bleak economic outlook? The blame for this can be laid squarely at Westminster’s door.
It’s no wonder Labour and the Tories stay silent as workers across these isles are set to be delivered another financial blow.
With the full powers of independence, Scotland would not be at the mercy of a Westminster elitist establishment that ignores the increasing burden on families while energy companies rake in record profits.
Scotland could guarantee our energy security with a proper investment in the just transition and renewable technologies, bringing down prices and ensuring we are no longer at the mercy of global headwinds affecting our energy supply.
And with independence, Scotland will have the powers to safeguard our precious energy sector and make the North East region the clean energy capital of Europe.
Westminster’s cronyism and impotence has delivered nothing but skyrocketing prices and plummeting living standards – Scotland deserves so much better. This broken system has proven itself to be a failure time and time again. Independence is the answer.