THE SNP has clashed with Rishi Sunak over energy bills, accusing the UK Government of “raiding the pockets of ordinary Scots whilst lining the pockets of Westminster”.
Speaking at PMQs, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said that wholesale gas prices have fallen by 75% since their peak – yet energy bills were due to rise by £500 in weeks, with the limit on bills under the energy price guarantee due to rise from April 1.
Flynn said this also would result in a “windfall” to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of around £15 billion.
He went on: “So what they are saying is they intend to raid the pockets of ordinary Scots whilst lining the pockets of Westminster.
READ MORE: Kate Forbes to keep fighting amid calls for her to quit SNP race
“It is time to set aside any notion of an energy price increase, instead protect households and perhaps reduce bills by £500.”
Sunak responded: “We are saving households across the United Kingdom including in Scotland £900 with their energy bills as a result of our energy bills guarantee.
“In the coming years we will spend £12bn protecting particularly the most vulnerable families and pensioners across the UK.
“But the best way to reduce people’s bills is to halve inflation as we have promised to do and produce more home grown energy in the UK.”
READ MORE: Supermarket vegetable shortage 'could last for months'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer quizzed Sunak over progress on a deal with the EU on Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangements, with the Prime Minister saying “intensive discussions” were still ongoing.
When asked if MPs would get a vote on any deal – which could risk a showdown with Eurosceptics on the Tory benches - Sunak replied: “Of course Parliament will express its view”.
The protocol, agreed as part of the UK’s Brexit deal, effectively kept Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods, meaning checks on products crossing from Great Britain.
The situation led to the collapse of powersharing in Northern Ireland, with the Democratic Unionist Party protesting about the barrier to trade with the rest of the UK.
With the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April, there is symbolic importance in getting a deal which could allow the Stormont administration to be re-established.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel