General Election 2017: Tories Vow To End 'rip-Off' Energy Bills

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39852119

When Ed Milliband announced a similar policy, the Tory PM at the time howled him down across the Dispatch Box. But now Mrs May is stealing this policy and calling it her own.

I congratulate her on this u-turn !

[naomi24]

Damn! If only we'd voted for him!

[Baldric]

Bless him,

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02918/POTD_Miliband_baco_2918111k.jpg

He should never have been allowed out on his own.

[douglas9401]

'Tories vow' is politician language for 'liars speak'.

[-Talbot-]

Not a policy that wows me very much.

In other news Ed likes what I've done with my front garden. (that's true)

[Deskdiary]

Presumably you are pleased, yes?

An ex Tory PM didn't like the idea, the current Tory PM does like the idea.

What point are you making?

[TWR]

Believe it when it happens, If it happens & what else will they screw to pay the shareholders? Bus Passes, Cold Weather Payments, maybe increase the pension age.

[AB Editor]

Why are the ruling classes so absolutely obsessed with energy bills?

What problem are they actually trying to solve? It's certainly not long term energy security.

I have no problem with an attempt to stop price gouging by foreign energy suppliers, but what's the point of this?

It's a little like the endless encouragement to switch to get a better deal, it's honestly not something people want to spend their time on, and definitely not something the gov should be suggesting is an answer...

[Baldric]

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1679780/New-state-pension-age-retire.html

23 Mar 2017 - The last Labour government set out plans, based on recommendations from Lord Turner, to steadily increase the state pension age to 68 f

[AB Editor]

Don't understand the relevance of that Baldric :)

[naomi24]

See TWR's post at 08.43.

[Baldric]

ED, see 0843 ^^

[TWR]

AB, one labour members answer, one Tory reply.

[youngmafbog]

The point of it is to stop energy companies, like insurance companies, taking advantage of Loyalty.

Whilst for anyone on here tech is not an issue, there are many who find it difficult to switch and they are often the old and/or vulnerable.

I'm not sure she is stealing, adopting probably a better word. And what u-turn has she made? Was it her who refused to do it last time?

[dannyk13]

//What problem are they actually trying to solve?//
The problem of the less well off struggling to pay the ever increasing energy bills.

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds like the Baron desperately needs to be made an example of.
Bet you he is wealthy enough not to give a darn about working classes and their need for a State pension; but the Labour party was ignoring the needs of their voters by taking that nonsense up. It means fewer younger folk employed and older folk forced to try to continue.

That said it is a diversion from the thread subject of an attempt to protect those vulnerable to unjustified high prices. Of course if the utilities were in public hands this wouldn't be an issue.

[TWR]

Danny, I could not have put that any better.

[AB Editor]

Sorry! :)

Pension age does need to go up if everyone is going to insist on living forever.

I heard someone suggest that they should put it up a 3 months every year for a few years. It's an idea.

[mikey4444]

My point is to congratulate the present Tory regime, for doing a u-turn on its previous policy in this area !

Ed.....I agree that most people should find out about switching, every year, but there is a substantial proportion of our society that are not internet-savvy and find switching hard to do. Without using the 'net, switching is next to impossible.

The energy companies will howl in protest at this proposal, as indeed some already have.

[naomi24]

You’d think Labour supporters would be pleased that the Conservatives are adopting one of Labour’s policies. After all, there is no chance of Labour implementing it. No pleasing some. ;o)

[youngmafbog]

The Tory party is under new leadership. As with Labour and JC when a new leader takes over the policies and thinking change. So are all party changes u-turns?

Of course some people will loose out. I strongly suspect they are able to offer some of these enticement deals as loss leaders in the hope that once trapped punters will stay and they will recoup the loss. This has been good for those savvy enough to switch. The problem is if they cannot recoup those losses then they wont offer the incitement deals meaning some of us will pay more in the future.