As many Northumbrians try to work out how they will meet rising energy bills since the removal of the price cap, the government’s best response is to say household bills won’t go over £2,500 a year.

The government banned onshore wind farms, slashed investment in energy efficiency, and closed gas storage plants which have resulted in higher bills and reliance on imports. Energy security is vital and this government has shown they can’t promise it.

Cllr Lynne Grimshaw Shadow Cabinet member said: “By every measure, this government has been found wanting. Common sense tells you that producing as much of our own energy as possible while making homes greener and cheaper to run is the way forward. It not only helps people’s pockets but the climate too. They’ve had 12 years to work on this but they still haven’t got the answers.

“Labour will launch GB Energy, a publicly owned green energy company. It makes absolutely no sense that EDF, the French’s publicly owned energy company, is one of our suppliers.

“We need to make Britain an independent energy superpower. This is what Labour is committed to. We can provide energy security and lower bills while helping the planet at the same time.”