The SNP has warned struggling households could face bills of up to £5,000 next April, after the Tories performed another screeching U-turn and scrapped protections offered to families on the energy price cap – and Labour abstained on an SNP amendment that would have prevented this.

In scrapping the majority of the proposals contained in the former Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng’s, financial statement, new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a scaling back of the energy price cap freeze, which will now last for only 6 months instead of the two years initially promised.

Stirling MP Alyn Smith said that real support to protect households and businesses could only come with the full powers of independence.

Local MP Alyn Smith said:

‘Stirling households and businesses will be looking at the scenes of political chaos at Westminster in growing anger and disbelief. We continue to pay a heavy, real-world price for the policy failures of the UK Government – and we can be in no doubt, Scotland, would be better off with the full powers of independence.

‘Already the Tories have crashed the UK economy with their disastrous mini-budget – now the new Chancellor has u-turned on key pledges made by the Prime Minister during her leadership election, with energy bills support now uncertain after next April. Key government ministers have resigned, and the Parliament is paralysed due to Tory infighting.

‘We don’t just need a new Prime Minister, we don’t just need a General Election – Scotland needs independence to end the farce of Westminster mismanagement once and for all.’

Notes for Editors:

 Warning energy bills could hit £5,000 next year as Jeremy Hunt scales back help