PM to unveil energy help package

[enaid]

Gordon Brown is to unveil a package of support to help people struggling with soaring energy bills.
More than 10 million households are set to be offered help with energy efficiency measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation, new boilers and double glazing.
Vulnerable households hit by rising gas and electricity prices are to get support cutting down on their consumption and through the winter fuel allowance.
It is thought the energy companies will also make increased contributions to the government's carbon emissions reduction targets scheme.
But there is not expected to be the windfall tax on the profits of energy companies demanded by unions and many Labour backbenchers.
The unions have said there is a moral case for the tax and the Government has "swallowed hook, line and sinker" excuses over social responsibility from the energy firms.
Britain's biggest union, Unite, claim that since 2003, energy firms have increased their profits by 538% to £3 billion and raised prices by up to 35% this year alone.
The industry was spending just £50 million a year combating fuel poverty despite the "huge" hikes in prices, profits and share dividends, said the union.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has cautioned against a windfall tax while Business Secretary John Hutton has indicated it would hurt investment in Britain.
The new package of help follows weeks of negotiations with energy bosses.

[enaid]

Re: PM to unveil energy help package

Well another great idea, never been thought of before and only took weeks of negotiation this time.
I think our Gordon must have got one of them Warmfront leaflets in with his last gas bill, having read that, thought that's agood idea, we will try that now lol

[Sapphire]

Re: PM to unveil energy help package

Hazel Blears was on GMTV this morning talking about the plans to provide help and Andrew Castle (Mr bloody georgeous mmmmmmmmmmm) showed her an article in a paper that quoted Mark Owen-Lloyd, an Executive in EON, who when asked about the recent and upcoming price rises, as saying 'more money for us'.
Hazel bless her tried to pass it off as an off the cuff remark and nothing much at all, but I bet sure as eggs is eggs that man will regret saying it.

[Sapphire]

Re: PM to unveil energy help package

And here's the fall out starting:

Campaigners Fury Over Fuel Crisis Jibe Made By E.On Energy Company Executive | Business | Sky News

[Guest]

Re: PM to unveil energy help package

This is what is termed "doing a Ratner" Gerald Ratner wiped £500 million from the value of Ratners jewellers with one speech in 1991. He said: "We also do cut-glass sherry decanters complete with six glasses on a silver-plated tray that your butler can serve you drinks on, all for £4.95. People say, 'How can you sell this for such a low price?' I say, because it's total crap."

He added that his stores' earrings were "cheaper than an M&S prawn sandwich but probably wouldn't last as long."

Mark Owen-Lloyd from EON was merely making a quip, albeit a thoughtless and insensitive one and will now have to pay the price for his stupidity.

Of course, Labour have jumped on this because it diverts attention away from them and brings to the fore the issue of a windfall tax again. After 11 years of endless taxes, have they not realised yet that the last thing anyone needs is yet more tax?

Interestingly the French government has asked its energy regulator to cap electricity and gas price increases for private users to 2% and 5% respectively.

Now why did our government not do this too? Could it be that any price increase also benefits them, as we pay tax on the fuel and higher prices mean higher taxes?

As Margaret Thatcher once said, "They have the usual socialist disease; they have run out of other people's money."

[TANZARELLI]

Re: PM to unveil energy help package

No doubt we will all pay for it somehow anyway.