For immediate release

Rutherglen MSP, Clare Haughey has called on Keir Starmer to “apologise to voters for breaking his promises” after it was announced that energy bills will rise again – for the third time since Labour came to power.

As previously reported in the Reformer, the UK energy watchdog Ofgem previously confirmed energy bill rises last October, and again this January.   

Last November, Rutherglen Constituency MSP called on the UK Labour Government to either provide a clear timetable for when households in Rutherglen and Cambuslang could expect to see the £300 reduction in their bills promised by the Labour Party during general election campaigning – or “admit if it’s destined to be yet another broken promise”.

Channel 4 News’ FactCheck service has reported that the UK Government failed to confirm that it still stands by the key election pledge, stating that “the energy department appeared to back away” from the £300 figure in their correspondence.

This third increase of 6.4% means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will see their annual bill rise by a further £111 from this April.  This comes on top of a 10% rise in October 2024, and a 1.2% rise in January 2025.

Commenting, Clare Haughey said:

“Labour promised during the general election campaign that it would cut energy bills by £300.

“I am frankly stunned that local residents now face opening a letter or an email warning them that their bills will now rise for the third time since Labour came to power – they have been completely let down.

“Local MP Michael Shanks was gleefully spreading this £300 message around like other Labour candidates, but since he became an energy minister he has been furiously backpedalling.

“In October Mr Shanks claimed Labour ‘made no pledge’ to reduce bills ‘in 100 days, a year, or two years’, and stated a few weeks ago it may take ‘longer than we would like’.

“The Prime Minister has completely lost control of this situation, and he must urgently apologise for his Labour party breaking its pre-election promises, and get a grip before households are forced to pay even more.”

ENDS