Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been accused of being "too weak to stand up for the British people" when it comes to helping them with the cost of living. The were made by Labour after it was revealed that energy giant Shell made huge profits amid soaring energy prices.
Ed Miliband, Labour's shadow climate change secretary, said Mr Sunak was unable to stand up to oil and as companies. His failure to do so was leaving households worse off, the MP claimed.
MR Miliband said: “As the British people face an energy price hike of 40% in April, the Government is letting the fossil fuel companies making bumper profits off the hook with their refusal to implement a proper windfall tax. Labour would stop the energy price cap going up in April, because it is only right that the companies making unexpected windfall profits from the proceeds of war pay their fair share.
“But when it comes to oil and gas interests, Rishi Sunak is too weak to stand up for the British people. Only Labour is on your side – with a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis now, and a long-term plan to cut bills for good and make Britain a clean energy superpower.”
His comments were echoed by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. He said that a "proper windfall tax" on energy companies needed to be implemented.
“No company should be making these kind of outrageous profits out of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine," Sir Ed said. "Rishi Sunak was warned as chancellor and now as Prime Minister that we need a proper windfall tax on companies like Shell and he has failed to take action.
“Families across the country are struggling to heat their homes and feed their families and this Government turns round and says ‘there is nothing we can do’. They must tax the oil and gas companies properly and at the very least ensure that energy bills don’t rise yet again in April.”
The Prime Minister is also facing pressure to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab amid an investigation over bullying allegations. Sir Ed said Mr Sunak's failure to do so was another sign of "the weakness of the Prime Minister".
Speaking to Sky News, the Lib Dem leader said: “I do think in the meantime he (Dominic Raab) should be suspended because the allegations are so serious. And again it goes to the weakness of the Prime Minister that he’s not prepared to take action when faced with the facts.
“And one of the things we’d like to see is the independent advisor on ethical standards look into what the Prime Minister knew and when with respect to these allegations of bullying against Dominic Raab. Did he appoint Dominic Raab knowing these serious allegations were there?”
