Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, has added his voice to Labour’s campaign urging Ministers to cut VAT on energy bills and take action to help residents hit by rising costs.

Residents across Chesterfield and Staveley have contacted Toby to express their fears at rising energy bills – amid speculation of higher prices to come in April.

The Resolution Foundation think tank recently warned that millions of families nationally face a “year of squeeze” in 2022 due to rising energy bills, stagnant wages and tax rises.

In addition, the Resolution Foundation outlined that the government’s increase in National Insurance contributions from April, along with an expected rise in energy bills in the same month could amount to a £1,200 hit to household finances.

Labour has called for the government to slash the 5% VAT rate on energy bills to zero, with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves calling it a simple and immediate measure to help people deal with costs over the winter.

Toby stated “Many residents have got in touch with me with their fears about rising energy costs. It really is time for Ministers to get a grip on this crisis and cutting the rate of VAT on energy bills to zero would be one way of reducing costs”.

He added “This is an immediate move which would help families and businesses across Chesterfield, and across the country. It is a proposal which Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself supported back in 2016. It’s time for him to stop dithering and take personal responsibility for this mounting crisis”.