The poll, carried out by the Liberal Democrats, showed that 23% of adults plan to make the drastic move, rising to 27% for those with children at home. The results also showed that 23% would be forced to use credit cards to pay their bills – up to 33% for parents – while one in 10 would take out a loan to cover the higher costs. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 4:53 How will energy prices hit households? It follows Ofgem’s announcement on Friday that the energy price cap will rise by 80% in October, resulting in the average household paying £3,549 a year for their gas and electricity. The government is under increasing pressure to announce further support to help households and businesses overcome the cost of living crisis, but Downing Street insists it is up to the new prime minister to decide what measures to take. There is still a week to go until the winner of the Conservative leadership contest is announced and neither Liz Truss nor Rishi Sunak have given exact details of what they plan to do to tackle the mounting bills if they get the keys to Number 10. Yesterday, reports said Ms Truss – who is front-runner and has previously rejected the idea of handing out “handouts” to people – plans to cut VAT from 20% to 15%, alongside pledges to reverse the increase of the National Insurance and the cessation of green contributions. Mr Sunak’s team criticized the rumored VAT cut as costly and “incredibly regressive”, with the former chancellor saying help with energy bills should go to low-income households and pensioners – through the welfare system and winter fuel payments. “National Scandal” The Lib Dems, Labor and the SNP have all called for a freeze on the price cap, as well as extra support for the least well-off households. Lib Dem MP and spokeswoman Christine Jardine said people would be making “heartbreaking decisions” this winter, such as keeping the heating on, because the government “failed to save them”. He added: “It is a national scandal that parents have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. 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 Rishi Sunak will not scrap the energy price rise. It is clear that energy prices must not be allowed to rise in October .” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:08 “Health is more important than bills” Labor is also calling for a plan to insulate 19 million homes across the UK in order to reduce household bills. The party claims the number of homes being insulated is at its lowest level in four years, laying the blame at Number 10’s door. Shadow climate change secretary Kerry McCarthy said: “The energy price cap has just shot up to record levels and people are terrified about what this means for their bills this winter. “The government should be working around the clock to insulate homes and ensure as many households as possible benefit from lower bills. Its failure to do so despite repeated warnings risks leaving millions out in the cold.”
