MP pushes Kier Starmer for response after Sheffield resident sees heating bills triple as war in Iran rages on
A local MP has called for action to help those most affected by a rise in bills after one of her constituents saw heating prices triple in recent months.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, took her opportunity at PMQs last week (March 18) to challenge Keir Starmer on the government’s response to escalating fuel costs.
She spoke of one of her constituents in Grenoside, saying that since December ‘the cost of her heating oil has nearly tripled from £257 to £700’.
“Local farmers I met last week also raised their concerns that the oil industry has not been properly regulated, disadvantaging off-grid customers,” the Labour MP continued.
“Whilst I welcome the government's 53 million pounds support package that was announced for rural communities, will the Prime Minister confirm how disabled people, vulnerable and low-income households can access this support and how he will improve regulation of oil to bring down the cost of energy bills.”
Since the break out of conflict in Iran last month, energy prices have continued to soar.
Petrol has become steadily more expensive week-on-week while increased household bills continue to exacerbate cost of living concerns.
The government has announced plans to help subsidise these costs, however in Parliament Prime Minister Starmer said the only reliable solution is de-escalation.
Responding to Maire Tidball, the PM said: “My first instinct is always to protect people from the cost of living.
“The immediate action we've taken in relation to those that heat their homes with oil is the £53 million that we announced this week.
“But de-escalation in the Middle East is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living and anyone who advocated for the UK to rush headlong into the offensive without a clear picture of what it meant for our forces or without thinking through the economic impact for families should stand up and apologise.”