BRITS will face a gut-wrenching choice to heat or eat as fuel bills soar this year, a financial guru says.
Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis said the Government must intervene now to avoid families facing a “seismic” hit to their bank balances.
2
Meanwhile, rail unions are threatening to cripple Britain with national strikes unless Boris Johnson tackles the cost-of-living crisis.
Mr Lewis’s plea came as energy regulator Ofgem prepares to raise the price cap on bills that until now has protected customers from volatile wholesale markets.
The new cap, due to take effect in April, could be as high as £2,000 a year, a rise of over £700.
Mr Lewis said: “We need to look at what we can do now and how we can protect those people who will need to choose between heating and eating. There are already some who are having to make that choice.
“We need to look at the whole structure of the energy market. The Government didn’t intervene early enough so we’re all paying for the market collapses we’re seeing.
“What’s coming in April is a seismic hit for fuel bills which is going to be astronomical. They have to sort it now because if we leave it before it’s too late it will be a disaster.”
It came as the TSSA warned of a national rail strike unless workers’ jobs are secured.
Leader Manuel Cortes also used rising bills to demand an inflation-busting pay rise for staff. He said: “Nothing else will do. A national rail strike in 2022 is very much on the cards.”
Most read in The Sun
Elsewhere, Tory MP Robert Halfon said the cost-of-living crisis could be solved if the PM uses the “Brexit dividend”.
He said: “If the Brexit dividend is to really mean something, surely cutting the cost of living has to be foremost. The public care much more about these things than whether champagne can now be sold in pint size bottles.”
The Government said: “Protecting consumers is our top priority.”
2
Woman left with £5k bill after booking Airbnb for her friend – who left burnt cushions and dog poo behind
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]
