Tories warn of ‘Christmas blackout’ as price of lighting tree surges | Politics | News | EUROtoday

The price of lighting a tree has surged underneath Labour, with Conservatives warning Britain is heading for a “Christmas blackout”. Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho claimed “Rudolph’s red nose” would be the brightest mild left on as households wrestle with electrical energy prices.

The Conservatives declare the price of electrical energy has gone up by 3.99 pence per kWh underneath Labour – the equal of a 17.8% hike.

With individuals working heating longer over the Christmas interval and conserving lights on all through the day, there’s concern their incomes will take a fair larger hit.

The Tories are calling on the Government to overtake the vitality market by scrapping renewable subsidies and axing the “carbon tax”. They declare such measures would reduce electrical energy prices by 20%, delivering a saving of round £165.

Ms Coutinho mentioned: “Britain is headed for a Christmas blackout as Labour’s energy price hikes make festive lights unaffordable. If Father Christmas gets lost, it will be because Rudolph’s red nose is the brightest thing left on.

“Labour promised to cut energy bills by £300 but instead families are dimming the lights and stretching the heating to get through December, all to pay for Ed Miliband’s mad rush to net zero.”

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero mentioned: “These claims are pure bah-humbug. We are taking action to bring down energy bills for families through our clean power mission, and expanded the £150 Warm Home Discount to around six million households this winter.”

Sir Keir Starmer had promised earlier than the election to “help families save up to £300 off their energy bills”. But the Conservatives level out the vitality worth cap has gone up by £190 from £1,568 for July to September 2024 to £1,758 for January to March 2026.

Ms Coutinho’s celebration has pledged to repeal the 2008 Climate Change Act which established legally binding, five-yearly carbon discount targets. It claims the Act “forces ministers to make decisions that increase the cost of energy and make people poorer”.

The Conservatives additionally promised to axe the the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and Carbon Price Support (CPS) for electrical energy technology.

Ms Coutinho mentioned: “Only the Conservatives will stand up against this net-zero madness. Through our cheap power plan, we will axe the carbon tax, scrap Miliband’s rip-off subsidies, overturn the North Sea ban, and cut every household’s electricity bill by 20% instantly, or £165 for the average family.”