- 100,000 more families in the North East will be able to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter under new proposals to help people with their energy bills.
- One in five families across Britain would get help with their bills, providing households in Hexham constituency with support
- The Labour government also sets out plans to accelerate a debt relief scheme, to tackle debt and reduce households’ energy costs.
Almost three million more households, including 100,000 more families in the North East, will get support to pay their energy bills next winter, as the Labour government confirms additional cost of living support for families across the country.
Labour is acting to protect families in Hexham constituency by bringing forward plans to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving eligible households £150 off their energy bills. This would bring a total of nearly 2.7 million households into the scheme across the country – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to an estimated 6.1 million.
This support builds on the Labour government’s broader Warm Homes Plan, which is already delivering insulation and energy-efficiency upgrades to hundreds of thousands of homes across the country. By reducing the amount of energy wasted in cold and poorly insulated properties, the plan is cutting bills permanently while supporting the UK’s transition to cleaner, greener energy.
Joe Morris MP, Member of Parliament for Hexham constituency said:
“I know from conversations I’ve had while out on the doors and at advice surgeries, that many families in our constituency are still feeling the pinch of high energy bills.
“I am incredibly pleased that today the Labour government has stepped in to help 100,000 more families across the North East with £150 off their energy bills this winter. This builds on our existing Warm Homes Plan, which is already delivering energy-saving upgrades to hundreds of thousands of homes, helping to cut bills and reduce emissions.
“This government’s new plans mean real, targeted support to lower every day costs and advance our net zero goals.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill.
“Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“Millions of families will get vital support with the cost of living this coming winter, demonstrating this government’s commitment to put money in people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.”
Labour is also accelerating proposals to introduce a debt relief scheme, which would target unsustainable debt built up by households in Hexham constituency during the energy crisis. This would help to cut the costs of servicing bad debt, which currently contributes to higher bills for all bill payers.
This additional support for households across the North East complements the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering energy security and bringing down bills for good.