Gas price hikes

Centrica have just announced a thumping great 35% gas price rise - with more 'in the pipeline'. The rising cost of fuel for households on modest or fixed incomes is becoming a national scandal. With pensions and other benefits tied to the RPI which is currently under 5%, rises of this sort in the cost of key commodities will guarantee falling living standards for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

And what is the Government's response? The winter fuel payment will rise for most pensioners by £50 this winter - but average fuel bills are set to rise by £200. The Government has also done a deal with the fuel companies to spend more on 'social tariffs' - but in many cases the poorest customers are paying the highest prices, especially those on pre-payment meters. The Government's answer is that people should shop around for the best price, but you try doing that if you are on a pre-payment meter, are in payment arrears and don't have access to the internet.

Once upon a time the Government was going to 'abolish' fuel poverty. Now it looks like about a quarter of UK households could be living in fuel poverty within a year or two. This is totally unacceptable, especially when you think how much the fuel companies have made in 'windfall' profits in recent years, notably through being issued with free 'permits to pollute' through the European emissions trading scheme.

The priorities have got to be getting bills down for the most vulnerable households and also making serious inroads on energy efficienc - otherwise people are paying a fortune for hot air that literally goes out through poorly insultated doors, walls, windows and lofts.

Instead of navel-gazing about the direction of the Labour party it is time the Government got serious about one of the most pressing domestic issues of the day.