“Rejoining EU Single Market only sensible route for UK,”says Scotland’s European Movement Chair
The three arms of the European Union have agreed a timetable towards making the European Single Market more globally competitive. By the end of 2027, the EU aims to have in place legislation that will benefit key economic sectors. They include digital technologies, financial services and supporting the growth of EU city regions. The initiative seeks to reduce bureaucracy and costs for business and stimulate economic growth.
Known as a “roadmap” the agreement to accelerate the reform of the Single Market was announced on 24th April. It followed a meeting between senior representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.
The plan is based on the 2024 report on the EU’s competitiveness by former Italian prime Minister Mario Draghi. Donald Trump’s “America First” policies, the almost total US monopoly of digital communications, the wars in Ukraine and the Gulf and the rise of China’s as a global economic superpower status has driven the EU to accelerate its plans to counter the threats of the new world order.
Chair of the European Movement in Scotland, David Clarke, says: “The world has dramatically changed. The EU is responding with bold ideas and a united sense of purpose.
“The UK can opt to watch from the sidelines as Europe rises to the economic challenges of our time, or it can choose to re-engage by joining the European Single Market. We can join our friends and neighbours and fight our corner, or we can be outsiders at the mercy of the USA, China and Russia. Rejoining the Single Market is the only sensible route for the UK.”
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament said: “This Roadmap reflects what the European Parliament has been calling for: a stronger, more competitive and resilient Europe.
“It is ambitious, it strengthens our capacity to withstand shocks, and it provides predictability to our citizens and businesses. We said we would take bold decisions and we are doing it. This is Europe responding to what it needs.”
Among the key actions are:
Cutting duplicated regulation and inconsistencies in the application of rules. A main ambition here is to help European businesses scale up and be global competitive, most notably in the digital sphere.
Energy market integration, including investment grid in cross-border grid connections.
A savings and investment union, so that the financial services sector has a bigger market, consumers have more choice and there is a more competitive market for business borrowers.
Allowing city regions more say on how EU funds are spent in their localities, particularly in infrastructure, energy and transport.
Campaigners say tens of thousands of people on low incomes are at risk of being ‘disenfranchised by deprivation’ in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.
New research by the Poverty Alliance has found an 11% gap in voter turnout at the last Scottish elections between the top and bottom 10 constituencies in terms of deprivation.
The charity is calling on politicians to close that ‘democratic deficit’ by supporting community get-out-the-vote campaigns – and by delivering on policies that close inequality and lift people out of poverty.
Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Our democracy can only work when politicians listen and act on people’s priorities. When that doesn’t happen, people lose trust in the system and simply stop participating.
“For years people in Scotland have put issues around the cost of living and the economy near the top of their political priorities. But lack of fundamental change has led to a democratic deficit, with people in areas of higher deprivation losing faith in the process more quickly.
“We regularly work with people struggling on low incomes. They are often highly political, with strong views about what is needed in their communities, in our society, and in our unjust economy. But they increasingly feel disenfranchised from a political process that is failing to address deprivation, poverty, and inequality. That has to change.”
The Poverty Alliance research found that in 2021 the average turnout in the 10 least deprived Scottish Parliament seats was 68%. In the 10 most deprived constituencies it was just 57%. That amounts to a gap of more than 60,300 voters.
The biggest democratic deficit was found between Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn with a turnout of 52%, compared to a 76% turnout in Eastwood. If the Glasgow seat had matched that level an additional 13,300 voters would have went to the polls there.
If the 10 most deprived seats had matched the turnout in Eastwood, an extra 108,000 votes would have been cast.
The Poverty Alliance has more than 450 members organisations across Scotland. It has created ‘Vote Your Values’ campaign materials that those groups can use to help people in their communities get registered to vote, and to get to cast their ballot on election day.
Peter Kelly said: “There is evidence that get-out-the-vote campaigns can help decrease the democratic deficit in communities, and we’d like to see greater support for them from political leaders for future elections.
“But the biggest thing politicians can do to help strengthen our democracy is to invest in a better future free from the threat of hunger, debt and destitution, where each of us has what we need to build a more secure life for ourselves and our households, and a better society for everyone.”
The Poverty Alliance manifesto calls for progress towards a Minimum Income Guarantee – which would give everyone the right to an income that never falls below what is needed for life’s essentials. The policy would be delivered through a combination of fair paid work, high quality services, and strengthened social security.
The charity says new MSPs can commit to piloting the approach among unpaid carers and in rural areas. And it calls for policy steps along the road to a full Guarantee, including encouraging and incentivising employers to deliver fair work with real Living Wages, raising the Scottish Child Payment to £55 a week by 2030, and investing in home energy efficiency and affordable heating to cut people’s energy bills.
ALLIANCE TO LIBERATE SCOTLAND ON COURSE FOR LECTION BREAKTHROUGH?
Tommy Sheridan in Glasgow and Craig Murray in Lothians East set to be elected to Holyrood alongside other Alliance to Liberate Scotland candidates
The Alliance to Liberate Scotland says two recent opinion polls conducted by Find Out Now point to a breakthrough result for the new pro-independence party at the Holyrood election on 7 May.
The respected polling company conducted two Scotland-wide surveys of 1,000 voters on behalf of the party, one in late March and the second in late April. The striking feature of both polls is their consistency.
In the late March poll, 8% of voters said they were either “definitely” or “very likely” to vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland. In the late April poll, 6% of voters said they were “definitely” or “very likely” to support the party on the regional list, which Find Out Now rounded up to 7%.
That matters because around 6% of the regional vote is widely regarded as the threshold for winning a seat in many of Scotland’s regional contests. On that basis, the two polls suggest the Alliance to Liberate Scotland is in genuine breakthrough territory.
Smaller regional samples also point in the same direction. In Glasgow, Tommy Sheridan’s support is shown fluctuating between 5% and 7%. In the 2021 election, the final regional seat in Glasgow was won by the Conservatives on just 6.1%, placing Sheridan within striking distance of election.
Although pollsters caution that smaller samples are less reliable than the standard national sample of 1,000, the repeated pattern across Glasgow, Lothians East and the national polling suggests rising support for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland across Scotland.
Commenting on the latest poll, Glasgow lead candidate and former two-term MSP Tommy Sheridan said: “One poll predicting an Alliance to Liberate Scotland breakthrough is encouraging.
“Two polls, with remarkable consistency, predicting support on the regional vote at between 6% and 8%, is a very real sign that the Alliance is fast becoming the choice of independence supporters who understand that SNP list votes are wasted votes.
“As more people grasp the two-vote system, more SNP supporters are realising their constituency vote for SNP matters, but their regional vote for SNP is futile. That approach helped unionist parties in 2016 and 2021. In 2021 the SNP won only two regional seats out of 56 contested, despite attracting over one million votes.
“Now independence supporters are increasingly choosing to give their regional vote to the party that makes independence its sole priority: the Alliance to Liberate Scotland.”
Sheridan added: “As the reality of the voting system becomes clearer, independence supporters can see the opportunity before them. The regional vote should not be wasted on the SNP, and it should not be diverted to the Greens, whose obsession with gender identity and culture-war politics has increasingly overshadowed the central mission of securing Scotland’s freedom.
“Genuine independence supporters are choosing to give their regional vote to the Alliance To Liberate Scotland over the Greens because they know independence is simply not a priority for the Greens.
“The Greens prioritise gender identity politics over Scotland’s freedom and that’s why independence activists are deciding to back the single-issue Alliance to Liberate Scotland party.”
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has published a new toolkit to help voters identify which of Scotland’s political parties are prioritising stricter fireworks regulations, farmed fish welfare, a ban on electric shock collars for dogs and cats, and other key animal welfare and veterinary workforce issues in the Holyrood elections next month.
BVA’s Manifesto for Scotland’s animals, vets, and public health 2026-2031 includes a number of key asks for Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) candidates, including a call to implement the recommendations of the Fireworks Review Group and championing the veterinary voice in farming policy. 56% of vets in Scotland believe that the latter should be one of the most urgent priorities for the new Scottish Government, according to a recent BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey.
When asked to pick up to three pledges from a list, 44% of vets also wanted the incoming Scottish Government to prioritise tightening the regulation of fireworks as soon as possible, while 42% want to prioritise a ban on the sale and use of electric shock collars for dogs and cats.
Voters who wish to consider animal welfare and veterinary workforce issues when voting next month can use BVA’s new toolkit to see how the manifestos of the major parties align with BVA’s key asks championing the veterinary voice in farming policy and tightening the regulation of fireworks, as well as five other key calls to action:
Better protect the welfare of farmed fish- Implement legislation based upon the principles of humane slaughter of farmed fish as set out by the Animal Welfare Committee. As an interim measure, we welcome the new statutory guidance issued by the Government under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Teach children about animal welfare- Make animal welfare and sentience part of the national curriculum. Children should learn about animals’ needs, duty of care, and the meaning of sentience so they grow up treating animals and people with compassion and respect.
Support the veterinary workforce– Streamline the visa/sponsorship process for international vets to attract and support veterinary talent from overseas and sustain the vital roles they contribute to in Scotland, including public health.
Ban electric shock collars – Introduce a complete ban on the sale and use of electric shock collars for dogs and cats. Evidence shows that reward-based training is not only the most effective training method for animals but also makes sure they are protected from any pain or suffering as part of their training.
Veterinary education funding: Ensure that veterinary education is properly funded and supported by removing financial barriers for universities and students, so that more homegrown talent, particularly from rural areas, can enter the profession.
BVA Scottish Branch President Vivienne Mackinnon said:“Our manifesto highlights the key animal welfare and workforce issues that matter most to our members across Scotland’s veterinary community.
“We hope that this toolkit will help those who want to consider these issues when voting next month to see how the manifestos of the major parties align with BVA’s key asks for Scotland.”
BVA is the leading body representing vets in the UK, with around 19,000 members, including nearly 2,500 in Scotland. For more details on BVA’s voter toolkit for Scotland, visit www.bva.co.uk/scottish-branch.
TRACY GILBERT URGES POLICE TO LAUNCH CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
On Tuesday, 21 April 2026, Tracy Gilbert MP, the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith, accused websites advertising prostitution of facilitating industrial-scale sex-trafficking in Scotland and revealed she has written to Police Scotland urging them to launch a criminal investigation into the websites, which continue to openly operate in Scotland.
Websites advertising prostitution are commercial online platforms dedicated solely or partly to advertising individuals for prostitution. A report in February by the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner identified nearly 63,000 listings of women across 12 websites advertising prostitution in the UK at a single point in time. In just one month, the same websites received almost 41.7 million visits.
Frequently referred to as ‘pimping websites’, the UK Government has acknowledged through a written parliamentary question that “adult service websites are now the most significant enabler of trafficking for sexual exploitation”.
Leading a debate in the UK Parliament on sex trafficking in Scotland, Tracy Gilbert MP argued that it is not just third-party criminals using these websites who should be the focus of police attention. Instead, it should be the website operators themselves facing investigation for sex trafficking.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2046563957708558669
In her speech, the Edinburgh North and Leith MP revealed that she had written to the Chief Constable at Police Scotland, urging a criminal investigation into pimping websites.
She stated that websites advertising prostitution knowingly aid prostitution and facilitate the travel of individuals for prostitution – by listing and categorising prostitution adverts according to whether the advertised individual will do so-called ‘outcalls’ – which is where a person travels to the sex buyer for the purpose of prostitution.
These actions, Tracy Gilbert MP stated, mean that the websites themselves constitute human trafficking operations under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015.
Following the debate, Tracy Gilbert MP said:“It is a national scandal that the individuals operating Adultwork and Vivastreet have not only been allowed to operate for years with total impunity, but that they have been publicly presented by Government and the National Crime Agency as partners in tackling sex trafficking.
“Pimping websites openly and explicitly facilitate the transportation or transfer of individuals for prostitution. The operators of these platforms publish prostitution adverts in a standardised format – which includes specifying whether the individual being advertised will do ‘out-calls’. …Facilitating the transportation of individuals for prostitution is built into the architecture of Adultwork and Vivastreet.
“I believe the seriousness and scale of these activities warrant an immediate criminal investigation.”
How the Independence Movement is Mathematically Defeating Itself
Dear Editor,
For years, the Scottish independence movement has been shackled by a fundamental misunderstanding of Holyrood’s Additional Member System.
The persistent rallying cry of “SNP 1, SNP 2” has not only failed to maximise our representation, but it has actively handed parliamentary power to unionist MSPs. The electoral facts prove that millions of pro-independence votes are being routinely wasted.
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP dominated the constituency ballot, winning 59 seats. However, the regional list system mathematically penalises parties that win heavily in the constituencies.
Consequently, the SNP’s 953,587 regional list votes yielded a mere 4 list seats.
The D’Hondt formula rendered nearly a million peach ballot votes virtually worthless, allowing the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour to use their regional votes to sweep 24 and 21 list seats, respectively.
In 2021, this electoral tragedy repeated itself. Pro-independence voters dutifully followed the dual-vote strategy, helping the SNP win a record 62 constituency seats.
Yet, despite securing over a million votes on the regional list, the SNP returned just 2 regional MSPs. Over a million independence votes were essentially torched. This inefficiency directly enabled unionist parties to comfortably fill the regional lists, artificially inflating their influence in parliament.
I argue that some still argue for an “Indy 1, Indy 2” approach, assuming that backing the same dominant independence party on the peach ballot paper will secure victory. It fundamentally does not work for the Scottish Independence movement. Continuing to pile list votes onto a party that has already swept the constituencies is mathematically self-defeating.
To break this deadlock and secure a genuine pro-independence supermajority, our strategy must evolve. We must stop throwing our regional votes into the D’Hondt trap. The formula for success is clear: it has to be Indy 1 on the constituency ballot, and Alliance to Liberate Scotland 2 on the regional vote on the peach ballot paper.
Only by splitting our votes strategically can we capture the regional lists, lock unionist MSPs out of Holyrood, and finally deliver the parliament Scotland needs to secure its independence.
Yours for Scotland,
Dhruva Kumar Glasgow Region List Candidate Alliance to Liberate Scotland Former MP Candidate, Glasgow, ALBA Party
Young people in Scotland are coming together to “grill” political parties in a special election hustings on their climate commitments amid huge fears about the climate crisis.
The youth-led event in Edinburgh TONIGHT – Wednesday 22 April – will be livestreamed nationwide with questions limited to people under 30 years old.
The organisers, the Scottish Youth Climate Coalition, say the climate and nature hustings in Edinburgh will be “an opportunity for young people to hear from potential MSPs about how they plan to handle our future.”
Young people are significantly less likely to vote than older people with IPSOS estimating just 37% of 18-24 years old voted in the 2024 UK general election, falling from 47% the 2019 General Election.
Research shows young people are the most worried about the future, with over two thirds of people aged 16-24 reporting that they feel worried about the future due to climate change. A similar number of yooung people say they feel their voices are not listened to by decision makers when it comes to climate.
The Scottish Youth Climate Coalition (SYCC) is made up of six of the largest youth climate organisations in Scotland – collectively representing thousands of young people aged 16-30.
The Coalition consists of Young Friends of the Earth Scotland, 2050 Climate Group, Teach the Future Scotland, Young Sea Changers Scotland, Green New Deal Rising, and People and Planet Edinburgh, with support from many smaller youth groups across the country.
The hustings will take place in Augustine United Church in Edinburgh tonight (Wednesday 22 April from 7 – 9pm).
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Youth Engagement Intern Kyle Downie said: “This is an opportunity for young people to grill those who wish to sit in the next Scottish Parliament about how they plan to handle our future.
“If politicians want our votes, they must be willing to show how they plan on meeting the many challenges facing young people in Scotland. From worsening climate impacts, to improving bus services, to protecting Scotland’s natural environment and seas, there are many questions we need answers to.
“It’s great to be able to bring the youth movement back together like this. As with any campaign, we’re stronger when we work together. And it’s important that this husting is youth-led, after all it’s our future these politicians are messing with!”
Charlotte Wilson organiser from the youth-led campaign for climate education, Teach the Future, said: “With 16 year olds able to vote in this election, we’re taking part to press candidates about their commitments to sustainable development, education, outdoor learning, global citizenship, and social welfare – collectively known as Learning for Sustainability – and pathways to green careers.”
Billpayers ‘set to benefit from a stronger energy regulator to ensure they are treated fairly’
Energy regulator Ofgem reformed to introduce stronger protections for consumers
Households supported with faster redress if they are let down by their supplier
Energy executives incentivised to act in consumers’ best interests
Billpayers are set to benefit from a stronger energy regulator, under reforms of its remit set out by the government today (22 April).
The transformation will empower the regulator to ensure energy consumers are treated fairly, including measures to guarantee good practice in the market. This is the first major update to Ofgem’s scope since the regulator was founded in 2000.
The comprehensive overhaul will give Ofgem new powers to act as a true consumer champion, including:
Stronger powers for the regulator to enforce consumer law directly, meaning it will no longer need to go through a lengthy courts process to make sure customers get what they are owed if companies treat them unfairly;
Measures to ensure energy bosses act on behalf of consumers, with powers for Ofgem to ban their bonuses if they break the rules;
Reforms to the regulator’s remit to focus on economic and consumer protection and ensure every energy consumer is protected, including the ability to regulate in new areas of the market if needed.
Since Ofgem was established, the market has grown more complex, with a wider range of products and services for consumers to choose from – with growing numbers of customers in parts of the market which are covered by little, if any, regulation.
That includes heating oil customers, who have seen prices spike following the start of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Last month the government announced funding worth over £50 million to support low-income families reliant on heating oil, and committed to introducing new consumer protections to the sector.
The changes announced today mark another step in that process, transforming Ofgem so that it is fit for the future and can ensure all consumers in today’s energy market are supported.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “This Government is fighting people’s corner, and today we set out steps to strengthen protections for energy consumers.
“This includes tough and fair measures to ban energy company bonuses if they break the rules.”
Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: “Every household must be given a fair deal, and today, we transform our energy regulator to give families stronger protections.
“We’re giving Ofgem stronger powers to fight consumers’ corner, changing their remit so they can protect every consumer, and introducing new measures so they can hold energy executives to account.
“We’re making the market work for those who use it, working with the regulator to make sure customers are put first.
“We will continue to stand up for working people and fight their corner as we tackle the affordability crisis – our number one priority.”
Interim Ofgem CEO Tim Jarvis said: “Great Britain’s energy system is going through the biggest changes in our lifetimes, and the regulator needs to be able to keep pace with that change.
“This review sets out ambitious, necessary reforms that will enable Ofgem to meet the challenges of regulating an increasingly electrified and flexible energy system and protect consumers so they can engage confidently in markets offering new products and services.
“We have delivered significant reforms in recent years, but this review enables us to make changes at a more systemic level to ensure we are delivering an energy system that works for consumers, that is attractive to investors and provides a stable, reliable environment for participants in the industry.
“With the tools, remit and clarity to deliver this, we look forward to working with the Government, consumer representatives and the energy sector to drive the change that’s needed – both in Ofgem and across the energy sector.”
To deliver the shift, Ofgem’s remit will be streamlined to focus on its core functions as an economic and consumer protection regulator. This involves removing Ofgem’s responsibility for oversight of home upgrade schemes in a role that is set to be performed within government by the Warm Homes Agency.
This will help equip Ofgem to drive forward clean power and economic growth, ensuring regulation supports innovation, unlocks investment in Britain’s electricity networks, and helps to modernise the energy system.
Ofgem’s capabilities will also be reformed, with its technical expertise strengthened, its use of data improved and its approach to risk reassessed – enabling the regulator to take faster decisions in the interests of consumers.
They will also develop a workforce plan, building on changes already underway, to ensure staff have the right skills to deliver the changes required, supported by stronger board‑level oversight of skills and culture.
The changes build on the reforms the government and regulator have already delivered to rebuild the energy retail market and improve standards in the sector – driving customer satisfaction with their suppliers to record highs.
They follow the government’s proposals to protect energy consumers with fairer, quicker and easier access to compensation when they are let down, as well as Ofgem’s plans to make sure suppliers’ Guaranteed Standards of Performance reflect the evolving energy system.
The plans come as the government is continuing to fight people’s corner in response to the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. Yesterday (21 April) the Energy Secretary set out plans to go further and faster on the mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower and protect people from the increasing global fossil fuel price shocks.
Gillian Cooper, Director of Energy at Citizens Advice said: “We welcome the actions set out in the review, which will strengthen consumer protections, enable a fair transition to green energy and give Ofgem the tools it needs to enforce the rules.
“Ofgem should now seize the opportunity to bring about a more innovative market, with better choices and protections for consumers, ensuring energy suppliers know there are real consequences for falling short.
“Effective regulation is one pillar which underpins a well-functioning energy system. But consumers also need strong advocacy, trusted advice and the ability to get problems sorted quickly and fairly, so they can make informed decisions and know they won’t be left out of pocket if things go wrong.”
Laura Sandy CBE, Chair of the Energy Network Innovation Taskforce and Green Alliance said: “Excellent to see that the review is focused on the clarity of Ofgem’s role, streamlining its role to become a truly modern regulator, moving from technology-based regulation to a consumer centric model and being responsible for driving growth.
“While, consumer protection and network regulation are the core functions, I hope that these roles also mean driving growth, unlocking wider societal opportunity and delivering customers greater choice.
“The culture within the organisation is a strong theme throughout with the need to move from a process, input regulator, to a dynamic opportunity and risk regulator. Crucially there are excellent recommendations around independent assessment on progress supporting Ofgem in the delivery of their new remit.”
Families across the country will be better protected from energy crises, as government moves to break link between gas and electricity prices
Families across the country will be better protected from energy crises, as government moves to break link between gas and electricity prices
New plans include long‑term fixed‑price contracts for renewables, protecting families when gas prices spike
Immediate action to tax excess profits through the Electricity Generator Levy by raising the rate from 45% to 55%, ensuring an increased proportion of the extraordinary revenue generated when the gas price spikes is available to government to support businesses and households with the cost-of-living
Comes as government doubles down on drive for clean, homegrown power with raft of measures to unlock public land, speed up planning and cut bills for families
Plans to better protect families and businesses by ending the unfair way international gas prices push up electricity prices across Great Britain take a major step forward today.
Instability in the Middle East has shown that Britain’s reliance on international fossil fuel markets leaves families and businesses exposed to volatile gas prices, driving the cost-of-living crisis even though much of the country’s electricity comes from cheaper renewables and nuclear.
When wars, geopolitical tensions or supply shocks abroad push up global gas prices, electricity bills rise with them, exposing families to crises they have no control over.
Over time, this problem is easing as new clean energy projects are built on fixed price contracts that protect consumers from gas price volatility. But a significant share of renewable generation – about 30% of Britain’s power supply – is still exposed to wholesale prices set by gas, leaving families vulnerable when international prices rise.
Therefore, to shield families from future crises, today the government is setting out new measures to ‘break the link’, reducing the impact that volatile gas prices have on the price of electricity. This will be done by:
Voluntary long term fixed contracts: offered to existing low-carbon generators not on fixed‑price contracts – covering around a third of Britain’s power supply. This will help protect families and businesses from higher bills when gas prices spike, with contracts offered only where they deliver clear value for money for consumers
An updated Electricity Generators Levy: immediate action to tax excess profits through the Electricity Generator Levy by raising the rate from 45% to 55%, ensuring an increased proportion of the extraordinary revenues generated when the gas price spikes is available to government to support businesses and households with the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on the cost of living
Measures announced today will further reduce the share of electricity exposed to gas price shocks and provide generators the economic incentive to move on to fixed contracts not linked to volatile gas. The government is monitoring the impact of the current crisis on energy bills and will be ready to step in to provide targeted support where necessary.
Britain has already moved from gas setting the price of electricity around 90% of the time in the early 2020s, to around 60% today. Through the government’s clean energy mission, it is estimated gas will set the wholesale price around half of the time by 2030.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We need to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster – this will make energy bills more stable and take the pressure off family budgets.
“When global gas prices spike, people here shouldn’t be picking up the tab.
“Our focus is simple: easing pressure on household budgets now, while building a homegrown energy system that protects families from global instability in the years ahead.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “As we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than 5 years, the lesson for our country is clear: The era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age.
“That’s why we’re doubling down on clean power, to give our country energy security and bring down bills for good.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Hardworking British families and businesses should not bear the brunt of global gas price shocks while electricity generators are making exceptional profits.
“Alongside moving generators onto the competitive pricing assured through wholesale Contracts for Difference, increasing the EGL to 55% will help to break the link between high gas prices and high electricity prices – offering households and businesses stronger protection against future energy shocks.”
Further measures
Speaking today at the Good Growth Foundation, the Energy Secretary set out further measures to help cut bills for families and deliver more clean, homegrown power:
Bigger grants for households on heating oil and LPG
The crisis in the Middle East has impacted those on heating oil and LPG the hardest. The government is today announcing an increase to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant for properties heated by oil and LPG, taking the total grant to £9,000. This will help those households and small businesses in England and Wales most impacted by rising energy prices, particularly in rural areas, to electrify their heating and provide greater certainty over energy bills.
Further details on Transitional Energy Certificates
Today in advance of legislation, we are publishing further details on Transitional Energy Certificates to provide greater certainty and clarity for industry looking to invest in already-explored areas near existing licensed fields, supporting a fair and managed transition.
Faster upgrades for social housing
The government is already investing £1.2 billion to upgrade 100,000 social homes over the next 2 years. To accelerate further, the government is today providing an additional £100 million of funding for the Social Housing Fund, subject to final approvals, to support the delivery of up to a total of 57,000 solar installations for households this financial year. Through the Social Housing Fund and social housing regulations in the ‘Warm Homes Plan’, this will help households cut bills by hundreds of pounds and support up to a million homes reach EPC C.
Solar panels for schools and colleges
Building on the success of Great British Energy’s solar scheme, the government is backing the company to extend support for more rooftop solar installations on a further 100 schools and colleges this year. Up to £40 million of government investment, subject to final approvals, Great British Energy will deliver new rooftop solar and renewable schemes – helping the public sector cut energy costs and reinvest savings.
Public land
Driving forward plans to massively expand renewables across the Public Estate – including using brownfield land, industrial sites and railway sites to host solar panels and wind turbines. This could unlock up to 10 GW of capacity, even using only a fraction of government land, powering the equivalent of around 5 million homes.
Planning and land rules
Streamlining outdated rules to unblock the grid and speed up clean, homegrown power, through the biggest overhaul of planning, land access and grid connection processes since the start of the government’s clean energy mission — cutting delays for essential grid upgrades and renewables, and exploring new routes for developers to build and connect their projects faster.
EVs, heat pumps and solar
Plans to make it easier for people to switch to cheaper electric transport and heating, by making EV chargers, solar panels and heat pumps easier to install for renters, flat-dwellers and households without a driveway.
The government is exploring ways to ensure that low-income households can benefit from plug-in solar through our ‘Warm Homes Plan’ this year, and have earmarked up to £25 million with a view to piloting support for plug-in panels in partnership with local authorities and mayors: our vision is a street by street approach where tens of thousands of low-cost solar panels are delivered to those most in need.
Reformed National Pricing
Households and businesses will benefit from a cheaper, more efficient energy system through a new Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan. The delivery plan shows how smarter planning and faster delivery of electricity infrastructure could unlock up to £20 billion in benefits between 2030 and 2050.
Time is running out for voters to register to have their say in the Scottish Parliament election on Thursday 7 May, with the deadline for registrations at 11.59pm TONIGHT.
Registering takes minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. All voters need is a name, address, and National Insurance number.
Those who are already registered will have received a poll card, which tells them where and when to vote.
Cahir Hughes, Acting Head of the Electoral Commission Scotland, said: “We want everyone to be able to have their say in this election, but first they need to be registered to vote.
“If you’re voting for the first time, have moved house, or changed any of your details, it’s especially important that you register online before the deadline tonight.
“It takes just five minutes and all you need is your name, address, and National Insurance number. You can do it now at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
“If you want to vote by post or by proxy, you still have time to apply, but you’ll need to be registered to vote first. Anyone not registered in time won’t be able to vote on Thursday 7 May.
“Once you’re registered, the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 April and the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5.00pm on Tuesday 28 April.”
