Tomorrow, energy firms will be given the green light to charge households as much as £3,600 a year for gas and electricity.
In January, the average bill is expected to rise by a further £1,000.
Millions of people will not be able to afford this much. They face the choice of freezing, running up debts or cutting back on other essential items such as food.
The surge in energy costs also spells doom for thousands of small firms. More businesses will be forced to shut up shop, lay off staff or reduce their opening times.
As they fear the worst, the oil and gas giants have never had it so good. Harbour Energy today reported a 1,100% surge in profits, raking in £1.2billion in just six months.
When people are facing penury, the case for widening the windfall tax is indisputable.
The Government needs to make a choice. Is it on the side of the major corporations or on the side of the millions of Britons who worry how they will pay their energy bills?
Grade shame
This year’s GCSE results have exposed a widening gap between pupils in the North and South of England.
Fewer than a fifth of students in Yorkshire and Humber achieved the top grades compared with 30% of those in London.
This educational divide is not a reflection on the staff or pupils. Teachers outside the capital are no less hard-working and school children are no less ambitious or dedicated.
They have been let down by a Government that failed to provide the Covid catch-up resources demanded by education chiefs.
The Tories are preventing young people from reaching their potential. A child’s prospects should not be determined by where they live or how much their parents earn.
We wood, too
Disney has made a new version of Pinocchio starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto.
Perhaps he accepted the role because there were no strings attached.
