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Targeted support for the poorest households who rely on heating oil is coming, we understand, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves set to make an announcement as soon as Monday.
It follows calls from rural Labour MPs who have warned of constituents living in fuel poverty, unable to heat their homes, restock their supply, or afford the soaring price.
“It might be a small proportion for the country overall, but where there are big clusters of people using heating oil, this is a big issue,” Labour MP Terry Jermy told Sky News.
The South West Norfolk MP said he has spent the week warning ministers: “I’ve got people literally turning off their heating because their tank has run empty.
“If we’re not careful and if we don’t act, this could be a public health issue. We’ve got elderly, vulnerable people literally not able to put their heating on, in some cases not able to cook their food. The government doesn’t have a choice, we’ve got to act.”
Beyond help for oil customers, Rachel Reeves is holding off on anything else for now.
Along with officials, she hopes time will ease the conflict in the Gulf and, with that, the impact on costs here. It’s a defiant stance, and a gamble she hopes will pay off.
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Opposition parties continue to pile on the pressure over what comes after the current price cap on energy bills ends in June and fuel duty goes up in September. Politically for Labour, it’s terrible timing.
Ministers felt their ‘£150 off energy bills’ was a tangible example of efforts to ease the cost of living and put more money in people’s pockets. From April, typical gas and electricity bills will see a cut as a result of changes announced by the chancellor in last November’s budget.
By scrapping some green…
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