Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey SNP MP Graham Leadbitter hails ‘welcome step’ in campaign for Highland energy bill rebate after meeting with Labour UK government minister
Could an energy bill rebate for Highland residents be a step closer? That’s the hope of a local MP after a meeting with a UK government minister.
Graham Leadbitter, who represents Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey and has been campaigning for a Highland Energy Rebate, believes a willingness by ministers in Westminster to at least listen to those concerns is a “welcome step” forwards.
He met with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Shanks, and fellow Highlands SNP MP Brendan O’Hara, earlier this week to discuss the proposal which would see residents in the Highlands provided with a rebate on their energy bills.
And he said that Mr Shanks’ willingness to express “an understanding of the injustice people in the Highlands face with higher energy bills” was a positive sign, especially when residents in the region live in an area where so much energy is generated on their doorsteps.
Commenting Mr Leadbitter MP: “I’m satisfied that the UK government listened to my concerns and expressed an understanding of the injustice people in the Highlands face with higher energy bills. I see that as a welcome step towards securing a fair and equitable solution.
“But what we now need is action that delivers for Highlanders and seriously cuts their energy bills.
“Much of the energy powering homes in the rest of the UK is produced in the Highlands, and yet the homes closest to the production of the clean and renewable energy so many people rely on are often stuck with the highest bills.
“People who can see excess energy being generated from their gardens should not be paying more to heat their homes or use their appliances.
“And that injustice is an especially bitter pill to swallow now, with energy prices set to rise for a third time under Labour in April. They promised to reduce bills by £300, instead they’ve risen by £279. When you add that to the premiums people are paying in this part of Scotland it amounts to a scandal.
“Labour must not copy the mistakes of previous governments in allowing this injustice to continue - they must implement a Highland Energy Rebate.”
Mr Leadbitter’s remarks follow recent “full Scottish Government support” for his campaign.
It his proposal was introduced by the UK government, the rebate would end an injustice that sees many consumers in the Highlands and North of Scotland pay premiums for their energy, despite living next to key renewable energy producing sites.
Energy bills for households in the Highlands are ordinarily higher, but have continued to rise, with the energy price cap increasing twice since the current Labour government took up office. Mr Leadbitter said it was also “set to rise again”, adding that “despite a promise to lower energy bills by £300 for the average consumer, bills will instead have risen £279 by April”.
