MP calls on Business Secretary to cap price of heating oil

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has urged the new Business Secretary to introduce a price cap on heating oil to protect off-grid homes from spiralling prices this winter.

Tim has joined forces with fellow Lib Dem MPs in rural constituencies to call for a cap of between 70 and 80p per litre after prices reached 95p in October.

In a letter to Grant Shapps, the MPs warned that thousands of people across the UK could face fuel poverty this winter due to the increased price of oil and other forms of energy.

Despite the huge costs of heating off-grid homes, the Government has only offered an extra £100 of support and has refused to explain how people will be able to access this payment.

More than 19,000 homes in Cumbria rely on heating oil due to being off the gas grid.

They are among around 1.5 million homes that use heating oil in the UK and are facing an average increase in bills of £1,200 per year.

Tim said: "Rural communities like Cumbria are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis but have repeatedly been neglected by Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives.

"Every week I'm contacted by constituents who are worried about heating their homes and feel insulted to have been offered £100 when their bills have increased by £1,000.

"They deserve more support and Liberal Democrats have a clear solution: extend the price cap to heating oil. This could be paid for by a windfall tax on the huge profits of oil and gas giants."