Aylesbury Lib Dems back “Robin Hood tax” on energy giants to support families with heating bills

Aylesbury Liberal Democrats have today written to the Secretary of State for Energy Kwasi Kwarteng demanding that he backs the party's call for a "Robin Hood" tax on the super-profits of oil and gas firms, to raise money to support local families facing soaring energy costs.

The proposed one-off levy could raise over £5 billion to help support families in Aylesbury as their energy bills sky-rocket.

It recently emerged that Russian energy giant Gazprom's trading arm, based in London, has cashed in a £179 million dividend. Meanwhile, the boss of BP has described his company as a 'cash machine' after soaring oil and gas prices boosted its profits to £2.4 billion in the third quarter of 2021 alone.

The Liberal Democrats say the money raised through this "one-off" tax could fund a substantial package of emergency support to help thousands of people facing higher bills.

This would include doubling the Warm Homes Discount and extending it to all those receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit, giving 16995 households in Aylesbury £300 each off their heating bills this year.

The party is also calling for winter fuel allowance to be doubled, benefitting 18,310 pensioners in the area and helping them keep their homes warm. On top of this, funding would be spent on helping people insulate their homes to slash heating bills in the long term.

Steven Lambert, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Aylesbury, said:

"It can't be right that a few energy firms are making millions from record gas prices while millions of people can't even afford to heat their homes as the cost of living crisis hits Aylesbury hard.

"A one-off Robin Hood tax on gas and oil bosses would provide vital funding to support families in our area who are facing crippling energy price hikes.

"For years the Conservatives have ignored this problem and failed to take the bold action we need to reduce fuel poverty. The Government cannot look the other way any longer while families struggle to get by."