WESTMORLAND MP CALLS FOR TAX ON OIL AND GAS BOSSES’ BONUSES

Today, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron is calling on the Government to cancel the proposed hike in capped energy bills, which would see an average family's household bills increase by £500. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for a new tax on the large bonuses of oil and gas bosses.

Tim is calling for cuts to people's bills instead, combined with a new energy support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals across Cumbria.

In April, the Conservatives are planning to cut the Energy Price Guarantee.

The Liberal Democrats plans would mean that in the South Lakes the average household would be £507.96 better off and in Eden £534.14. In total the South Lakes and Eden would save a huge £24,940,957 and £10,855,689, respectively.

Tim has said that the new price hike is a "hammer blow" to families and businesses already struggling and that 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:

1. A windfall tax on oil and gas companies to raise billions of pounds
2. A cancellation of the Governments £500 energy bill rise in April
3. A one-off bonus tax on oil and gas executives
4. Doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.
5. 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.

Speaking today, Tim said: "The Conservatives' plan to hike energy bills in April will come as a hammer blow to families in Eden and South Lakeland who are already struggling with soaring mortgages and rents, shopping bills and tax rises.

"With no plan to deal with this cost-of-living crisis for people or businesses, this out-of-touch Government is instead making it much worse because they just don't get it.

"People need real support and that's what we are calling for. Sadly, to add insult to injury Rishi Sunak is happy for energy bosses to rake in millions of pounds in bonanza bonuses, while families struggle to put food on the table or heat their homes."