Labour have been accused of making a “broken election promise” for Ayrshire residents just three months after winning power.
Ayr MSP SiobhIan Brown warned that people in Ayrshire “cannot continue to pay the price for Westminster failure” after energy bills went up by an average of £149 this week.
Energy regulator Ofgem increased the cap on energy bills on Tuesday after successive falls which had followed the post-Covid spike in prices.
During the election campaign, Labour promised that they would cut fuel bills and Scottish leader Anas Sarwar said that “every vote for Scottish Labour is a vote to cut bills”.
Ms Brown has said the increase will be especially concerning for pensioners following the Labour Government’s decision to means test the Winter Fuel Allowance adding that it will “hammer the most vulnerable”.
In contrast, Ms Brown said the Scottish Government is working with energy companies on ambitious plans to create a social tariff – a policy which would cut energy costs for vulnerable households.
She insisted: “Households across South Ayrshire will feel the consequences of Labour austerity and broken promises – rising energy bills.
“These are the same households which have suffered for over a decade of bad decisions made at Westminster, whether it’s the two-child benefit cap or now slashed Winter Fuel Payment – both of which are now Labour policies.
“The Labour party has broken their promise to the people of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, just as they have done with pensioners across Scotland. Such cruel betrayal has echoes of Tory rule.
“Now is the time to change tact, back the SNP Government’s efforts to introduce a social tariff and ensure homeowners are never priced out of heating their homes.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband previously laid the blame for energy price rises on the former Conservative government’s failure to invest in renewables.
Mr Miliband said: “The rise in the price cap is a direct result of the failed energy policy we inherited, which has left our country at the mercy of international gas markets controlled by dictators.
“The only solution to get bills down and greater energy independence is the government’s mission for clean, homegrown power.
“That’s why we have hit the ground running, lifting the onshore wind ban, consenting unprecedented amounts of solar power and setting the largest ever budget for our renewables auction.”
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