The National:

EVEN Tory MPs can’t get their story straight on Rishi Sunak’s £200 “discount” on energy bills, amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Before we get into one Tory MP’s shambolic and much-ridiculed advice, also scorned by money saving expert Martin Lewis, let’s quickly recap.

Annual energy bills are set to soar by £693 from the beginning of April. Energy regulator Ofgem has increased the energy price cap to a record £1971 for a typical household as gas prices hit record highs. The price will affect around 1.5 million Scottish households, or half the population.

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Citizens Advice Scotland described the announcement as a “hammer blow” for Scots families, while a leading housing association chief warned it was “hugely negative for poorer communities”. The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said the price hike will have life-threatening implications.

In summary: it's not good.

Chancellor Sunak promised that households in Britain would get a £200 up-front rebate on their energy bills from October to help out.

The National: Chancellor Rishi Sunak speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, London.

That move has, in the main, sparked only fury – rather than the “discount” it’s been billed as, it’s more like a “buy now, pay later” loan.

This is because energy bills will increase by £40 a year for five years to make up for the £200... regardless of whether you received the £200 or not. For example, if you’re living with your parents just now and move out in two years.

And so, south of the Border, Tory MP for Darlington Peter Gibson has been facing huge pushback from constituents on his Facebook page.

They were furious at this compulsory levy and asked if there was any way to avoid the £200 rebate – so, what was his answer, to multiple constituents?

Gibson said: “If you don’t want or need the help of the £200 smoothing then simply overpay your energy account by £200”

The most frequent reaction to that comment was the laughing emoji – if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry…

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For the avoidance of any doubt: No, overpaying your energy bill by £200 will not help you avoid the levy. You’ll still be paying £40/year more on your energy bills because of the Tories.

Labour shadow minister Jenny Chapman tweeted a picture of one of Gibson's responses next to advice by Martin Lewis, writing: "Which one of these people is a consumer advice expert? #energybills #incompetent"

Lewis retweeted that, adding: “I'm hoping you think it's the one on the left of the image? 🤔”

He would be correct to assume it’s very, very obvious which one is the money expert and which one is the out-of-his-depth Tory.

Gibson’s constituents on Facebook were also unimpressed.

Carl Bozeate wrote: “Not going down very well this is it Peter??”

Susan Stockton said: “They’ve no idea how much working people are struggling. Not a clue I’m afraid. I’ve lost all trust in them.”

Caroline Stokle asked: “Are you just cutting and pasting the same replies? Are you actually listening properly to what people are saying?”

Given that Gibson is also being accused of creating an online "echo chamber" by blocking residents of Darlington from his Facebook page, it's probably safe to say listening isn't his strength.