The survey of more than 2,000 adults in the UK found that 23% would do without heating in the winter months. This figure was even higher for parents with children under 18, with 27% saying they would be forced to leave radiators cold. Around 70% said they would turn on the heating less, while 11% said they were considering taking out a loan to cover extra costs. This figure rose to 17% for people with children. The poll was carried out before the regulator Ofgem announced that the peak energy price would rise by 80% from October. The decision will increase the average gas and electricity bill from £1,971 to £3,549 a year. The Lib Dems, who commissioned the inquiry, have called for further commitments from the incoming Tory prime minister, widely expected to be Liz Truss, to help struggling households. “Families and pensioners across the country are making heartbreaking decisions because the government has failed to save them,” said Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Christine Jardine. “It is a national scandal that parents have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children,” he said. “It shouldn’t be like this. Britain is on the brink of its worst cost of living crisis in a century and yet Liz Truss and [rival leadership candidate] Rishi Sunak will not cancel the energy price hike.” The Lib Dems are calling for a further windfall tax on oil and gas companies to partly fund the price cap freeze. Labor also put pressure on the Tory leadership candidates, calling for the existing tax introduced in May by Sunack, then chancellor, to be toughened by removing the ability to claim tax relief on more than 90% of the levy if the money is reinvested. . However, both Sunak and Truss have so far refused to consider extending the 25% levy on energy profits introduced after a surge in wholesale prices fueled by the invasion of Ukraine and Russia’s decision to cut exports of natural gas gas. A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said immediate support aimed at low-income households, pensioners and people with disabilities would “continue to reach people’s pockets over the coming weeks and months”. “As part of the £37bn household aid package, one in four of all UK households will receive an extra £1,200 of support, delivered in installments throughout the year, and everyone will get a £400 discount £ on their energy bills in winter’. they said. “The civil service is also making appropriate preparations to ensure that any additional support or cost of living commitments can be delivered as quickly as possible once the new prime minister is in place.” The survey was conducted by market research firm Savanta ComRes.
