SOLIHULL’S Lib Dems are backing a ‘Robin Hood tax’ on energy giants to support families with soaring heating bills.
The local party has written to the Secretary of State for Energy Kwasi Kwarteng demanding that he backs the party’s call for the so-called ‘Robin Hood’ tax on the super-profits of oil and gas firms, to raise money to support local families facing a massive hike in gas and electricity prices.
The proposed one-off levy could raise more than £5billion to help support families in the borough as their energy bills sky-rocket.
Ade Adeyemo, chair of Solihull and Meriden Lib Dems.
They say this could fund a substantial package of emergency support to help thousands of people facing higher bills.
This would include doubling the Warm Homes discount and extending it to all those receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit, giving an estimated 20,831 households in Solihull £300 each off their heating bills this year.
The party is also calling for the winter fuel allowance to be doubled, benefitting 62,270 pensioners in the area and helping them keep their homes warm.
On top of this, funding would be spent on helping people insulate their homes to cut heating bills in the long term.
Ade Adeyemo, chair of the Solihull and Meriden Liberal Democrats, said: “It can’t be right that a few energy firms are making millions from record gas prices while people can’t even afford to heat their homes as the cost of living crisis hits Solihull hard.
“A one-off Robin Hood tax on gas and oil bosses would provide vital funding to support families in our area who are facing crippling energy price hikes.
“For years the Conservatives have ignored this problem and failed to take the bold action we need to reduce fuel poverty. The Government cannot look the other way any longer while families struggle to get by.”
