The new prime minister, Liz Truss, clashed with the opposition leader on Wednesday how to help the Brits with their skyrocketing energy billsin a first parliamentary confrontation where the post-Brexit front with the European Union was also reopened.
“I understand that people across the country suffer from cost of living and energy bills and for this (…) I will take immediate action “, he told the House of Commons, confirming that on Thursday he will announce the measures in parliament.
Appointed on Monday as the new leader of the Conservative Party to replace the outgoing Boris Johnson, and appointed on Tuesday as head of government by Queen Elizabeth II, Truss, hitherto foreign minister, has appointed a government formed by ultraliberal figures.
His new finance minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, is finalizing an aid plan that, according to the press, would include freeze energy prices.
In April, British households experienced a nearly 55% increase in the gas and electricity tariff cap. And in October it has to rise by 80%, leaving many unable to pay.
Numerous companies and institutions, including hospitals and schools, have warned that they should do so dramatic cuts or even close in the face of skyrocketing costs, which threaten an autumn of protests and strikes.
trellis if he refused on Wednesday to answer repeated questions of opposition MPs on how it will finance these measures, possibly aimed at fattening a record public debt after the years of the pandemic.
“The prime minister knows he has no choice but to support an energy price freeze,” said Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer.
“The political decision is who will pay for it“He added, ensuring that according to the Treasury, energy companies will record an extra £ 170 trillion ($ 194 trillion) profit over the next two years due to rising prices.
“He knows that every pound of extra benefits he decides not to tax is an extra pound of debt that workers will be forced to pay off for decades to come,” he added.
Truss and a history of defense of liberal policies
During his six-week campaign in front of 172,000 Conservative Party members, the only ones in a country of 67 million to have a say in Johnson’s succession, Truss defended ultraliberal policies.
It has advocated a massive tax cut despite warnings that it could further accelerate inflation which is already above 10% and is expected to reach 14% by the end of the year and 18% in 2023.
In his first parliamentary session, the prime minister made this clear on Wednesday is “against exceptional taxes” to energy companies, which “discourage companies from investing in the UK just when the economy needs to grow”.
In addition to some social aid which he once again called “bandage”, he promised to “increase long-term energy supply”, increased hydrocarbon extraction in the North Sea, despite the climate crisis, and the construction of nuclear power plants.
Even the first face to face with Starmer was an opportunity for Truss showed his speaking prowess, often questioned.
And to test the level of support from his MPs, many of whom would have preferred his opponent in the race for conservative leadership, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, who became prime minister.
By reopening the conflict with the European Union, he also declared himself determined “resolve” the difficult situation that arose after Brexit in the British region of Northern Ireland.
“I prefer a negotiated solution,” he said, but insisted that Brussels should accept the unilateral changes to the post-Brexit protocol that London is preparing to legislate on.
The EU has already denounced them as violating an international treaty and threatened a retaliatory trade war.
AFP
Source: Clarin
