Tory MPs join cross-party call for May to deliver on price cap pledge
Pressure over promise comes on eve of Tory conference
Embattled UK Prime Minister Theresa May is under pressure to fulfil her election pledge to cut energy prices for poorer households as more than 190 MPs demand she take action.
The MPs, which include 76 from her own Conservative Party, have written to May demanding that she cap the standard variable tariff. All of Britain's 'big six' energy firms have raised prices this year.
The letter will be embarrassing for the prime minister as it comes on the eve of the Conservative's annual conference in Manchester against a backdrop of a party divided over the terms of Brexit and the loss of its parliamentary majority in June's General Election.
May's pledge to cap electricity and gas prices has been watered down after lobbying by the industry. Regulator Ofgem said in July it would help only 2.2m vulnerable customers using a “safeguard tariff”.
“We hope you will work with us and Ofgem to stop this big six stitch-up, and pledge to help the millions of households who Ofgem seem set to ignore,” the letter to May states.
It was organised by former Tory minister John Penrose, who said the government should replace the regulator if it failed to impose the cap and take action itself.
However, Ofgem has argued that a cap can only be forecd on suppliers by the government through legislation.