The Chancellor has today announced the government’s plan to support people with the rising cost of energy bills. This comes on the same day as the Energy regulator, Ofgem have warned that bills will rise by approximately £700 from April.

What the government has announced today amounts to a buy now pay later scheme that will barely register for people who are struggling to pay their bills.

Instead of supporting people and businesses with the impending energy crisis, this government have decided to extend it for years to come and stand on the side of oil and gas companies who have been raking in record profits.

Labour has a plan that would keep bills low with a one-off tax on oil and gas profits. This would save all households £200 off their bills now, with further targeted support of up to £400 for the lowest earners, pensioners and the squeezed middle. And we have a plan to regulate the market, so we fix these issues in the long term.

This announcement is not good enough and will not bring any comfort to those who are making unimaginable choices between feeding themselves or heating their home.