The MSP for Na H-Eileanan an Iar has warned that the Labour Party’s broken election promise has seen energy bills across the Western Isles go up by an average of £149 from today, saying “Scots cannot continue to pay the price for Westminster failure.” 

The Labour Party promised people during the election campaign that they would cut fuel bills - however today energy prices will go up by 10%, adding £149 onto the average household bill. 

The increase will be especially concerning for pensioners, most of whom have had their Winter Fuel Allowance taken away from them by the Labour government. Alasdair Allan MSP SNP has warned "as is the case with all austerity measures, this will hammer the most vulnerable Western Isles residents, who continue to face the highest levels of fuel poverty across the UK."

In stark contrast the SNP Government is working with energy companies on ambitious plans to create a social tariff - a policy which would slash energy costs for vulnerable households. 

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said:

"The prople of Na H-Eileanan an Iar were promised change for the better in July, but by October, households across the constituency are seeing and feeling changes for the worse with rising fuel bills, austerity and broken promises.

“These are the same households which have suffered for over a decade of bad decisions made at Westminster, whether it’s the two child benefit cap or now slashed Winter Fuel Payment – both of which are now Labour policies.

“Currently energy policy is reserved to the UK Labour Government and sadly, there seems to be no effort to bring a positive change to reduce fuel poverty in a constituency with the highest levels.

"The Labour Party has broken their promise to the people of Na H-Eileanan an Iar, just as they have done with pensioners across Scotland. Such cruel betrayal has echoes of Tory rule. 

Now is the time for Labour to change tack, back the SNP Government's efforts to introduce a social tariff so nobody in Na H-Eileanan an Iar is priced out of heating their home.

“Of course, if Scotland’s Parliament had the same powers as an independent nation, we would not need to convince or persuade the UK Government to lower fuel poverty, and instead, could implement real change for Scotland and our islands.”