Latest news with #AndrewBowie
Sky News
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News
Warm Home Discount extended to 2.7 million more households
Energy bill discounts of £150 will be extended to another 2.7 million households to help with fuel costs this winter. It brings the number of households eligible for the Warm Home Discount up to just over 6 million, including 900,000 families with children, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said. The changes mean every bill payer on means-tested benefits will qualify, removing the high-cost-to-heat threshold in the current regulations. It follows a government consultation on expanding the one-off payment to more people struggling with fuel poverty. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill. "Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as prime minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. "I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference." The Conservatives criticised the move, saying the announcement will only cut bills for a quarter of households. Andrew Bowie, the acting shadow energy secretary, criticised Labour's green energy drive, claiming that it would increase bills for most people. "Kemi Badenoch and I have been clear that net zero by 2050 is impossible without bankrupting Britain and making hard-working families worse off," he said. 1:30 Typical yearly energy bills are expected to fall by £129 from July, Ofgem has said. However typical bills under the July to September 2025 price cap will still be 42% higher than in winter 2021/22, according to a House of Commons research briefing. The Warm Home Discount scheme was introduced by the coalition government in 2011 to help people on low incomes with their fuel bills. Adam Scorer, the chief executive of National Energy Action, said today's announcement is "hugely positive news" but is "far from sturdy". "The rebate has only increased by a meagre £10 during a period in which energy bills have gone up by £500 a year and there is no clarity on the programme beyond the end of March next year," he said.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Expand grooming gangs inquiry to Scotland, UK Government urged
The UK Government should expand the grooming gangs scandal inquiry to cover Scotland, the shadow Scottish secretary has said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a probe after initially ruling the move out, while a review published on Monday suggested officials had dodged the issue of race in grooming gangs over fears of appearing racist. Available data showed offenders were disproportionately Asian men. On Tuesday, shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to expand the remit of the inquiry. In a letter to the minister, Mr Bowie welcomed the announcement of the inquiry, which he described as 'long overdue'. He added: 'However, I write to urge you to ensure that this inquiry is truly national in scope – and that it is extended to include Scotland. 'Victims of grooming gangs in Scotland must not and cannot be overlooked.' There is 'clear evidence' grooming gangs have been in operation in Scotland, the MP said, as he called for either the extension or for the UK Government to work with ministers in Scotland to set up their own inquiry. He added: 'Victims in Scotland deserve the same recognition, and opportunity for justice. Excluding Scotland from the inquiry risks creating a two-tier system of justice. 'I urge you to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that this inquiry can extend its remit to include relevant cases in Scotland, or to support the establishment of a parallel inquiry with equivalent powers and independence. 'Once again, I urge you to ensure thorough and effective implementation for victims across the United Kingdom by extending the scope to include Scotland.' Mr Bowie's calls come as Labour MP Joani Reid urged the Scottish Government to set up its own inquiry. Speaking to the Daily Record, the East Kilbride and Strathaven MP said: 'If the Scottish Government does not intend to hold its own dedicated inquiry, we need clear reasons why – not the vague responses we've had so far. 'This issue is too serious and urgent to leave unanswered. 'I hope the First Minister recognises how important it is to act swiftly to safeguard young people. 'We cannot allow bureaucracy or complacency to put children at further risk.' Speaking to journalists on Monday, First Minister John Swinney said: 'The Prime Minister has obviously taken his own decision on grooming gangs. 'We established some years ago the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which has got extensive scope and ability to explore many or all of these issues. 'There will, of course, be other processes of inquiry that are undertaken when that's appropriate. 'I would give every consideration to an issue of this type if I felt it was necessary to be undertaken and obviously we will do that in the fullness of time.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Expand grooming gangs inquiry to Scotland, UK Government urged
The UK Government should expand the grooming gangs scandal inquiry to cover Scotland, the shadow Scottish secretary has said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a probe after initially ruling the move out, while a review published on Monday suggested officials had dodged the issue of race in grooming gangs over fears of appearing racist. Available data showed offenders were disproportionately Asian men. On Tuesday, shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to expand the remit of the inquiry. In a letter to the minister, Mr Bowie welcomed the announcement of the inquiry, which he described as 'long overdue'. He added: 'However, I write to urge you to ensure that this inquiry is truly national in scope – and that it is extended to include Scotland. 'Victims of grooming gangs in Scotland must not and cannot be overlooked.' There is 'clear evidence' grooming gangs have been in operation in Scotland, the MP said, as he called for either the extension or for the UK Government to work with ministers in Scotland to set up their own inquiry. He added: 'Victims in Scotland deserve the same recognition, and opportunity for justice. Excluding Scotland from the inquiry risks creating a two-tier system of justice. 'I urge you to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that this inquiry can extend its remit to include relevant cases in Scotland, or to support the establishment of a parallel inquiry with equivalent powers and independence. 'Once again, I urge you to ensure thorough and effective implementation for victims across the United Kingdom by extending the scope to include Scotland.' Mr Bowie's calls come as Labour MP Joani Reid urged the Scottish Government to set up its own inquiry. Speaking to the Daily Record, the East Kilbride and Strathaven MP said: 'If the Scottish Government does not intend to hold its own dedicated inquiry, we need clear reasons why – not the vague responses we've had so far. 'This issue is too serious and urgent to leave unanswered. 'I hope the First Minister recognises how important it is to act swiftly to safeguard young people. 'We cannot allow bureaucracy or complacency to put children at further risk.' Speaking to journalists on Monday, First Minister John Swinney said: 'The Prime Minister has obviously taken his own decision on grooming gangs. 'We established some years ago the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which has got extensive scope and ability to explore many or all of these issues. 'There will, of course, be other processes of inquiry that are undertaken when that's appropriate. 'I would give every consideration to an issue of this type if I felt it was necessary to be undertaken and obviously we will do that in the fullness of time.' The Home Office has been asked for comment.
Powys County Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Bowie challenges Tories to ‘step up' against Miliband's ‘eco-zealotry'
Tories need to 'step up' as Labour at Westminster and the SNP government at Holyrood are making the UK 'more vulnerable', acting shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie has said. The Scottish Conservative MP criticised both Labour and the SNP over their opposition to new oil and gas developments in the North Sea. Accusing the UK Government of 'overseeing the wilful deindustrialisation of this nation', Mr Bowie hit out at the 'frankly dangerous eco-zealotry of Ed Miliband', the Energy Secretary. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference at Murrayfield in Edinburgh Mr Bowie told his party: 'We must step up. Britain needs us more than ever.' The Tory insisted: 'The future of Scotland and Britain is at stake, our country's security depends on a strong Conservative Party to stand up for what is right.' He recalled how former US president Ronald Reagan had 'once said the first duty of government is to protect' – but added that 'on every front the SNP and Labour are failing to do that'. Attacking both Labour and the SNP, Mr Bowie, who is also his party's shadow Scottish secretary, said: 'They haven't protected everyone's economic security, by raising taxes, or ripping away their winter fuel payment, even if they are now apparently going to hand it back to them. 'They haven't protected our energy security by insisting on no new oil and gas developments.' The Conservative MP continued: 'We can all see what is happening in the world, there is more risk out there, we as a country are more vulnerable. 'That is why the decisions of this Labour Government are so gravely concerning. Their economic incompetence, coupled with their frightening ineptitude when it comes to our energy security is making the United Kingdom more vulnerable.' He attacked the Labour Government over its 'madcap drive to clean power by 2030', as he said ministers were 'actively accelerating the decline of our North Sea'. This, he said, was 'forcing us to become increasingly exposed to over-reliance on imports from overseas, imports that are shipped in diesel-chugging tankers across the Atlantic from America or from Norwegian wells'. The Tory said the opposition to new oil and gas developments meant 'investment is drying up, work is being put on pause, companies are literally shutting up shop and jobs are being lost'. But he added: 'This hostility for our oil and gas workers is not simply the preserve of the zealots in the Labour Party. 'The SNP have their fingerprints all over the job losses, the well closures.' It's Scottish Conservative Conference! 🇬🇧🏴 Hello Murrayfield! @ScotTories @Conservatives — Andrew Bowie (@AndrewBowie_MP) June 13, 2025 Mr Bowie added: 'We need Conservative leadership because we know where the SNP and Labour will take us.' He also used his speech to attack the 'snake oil salesmen' in Reform UK, insisting that Nigel Farage's party do not 'care one jot for Scotland, or for our United Kingdom'.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Bowie challenges Tories to ‘step up' against Miliband's ‘eco-zealotry'
Tories need to 'step up' as Labour at Westminster and the SNP government at Holyrood are making the UK 'more vulnerable', acting shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie has said. The Scottish Conservative MP criticised both Labour and the SNP over their opposition to new oil and gas developments in the North Sea. Accusing the UK Government of 'overseeing the wilful deindustrialisation of this nation', Mr Bowie hit out at the 'frankly dangerous eco-zealotry of Ed Miliband', the Energy Secretary. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference at Murrayfield in Edinburgh Mr Bowie told his party: 'We must step up. Britain needs us more than ever.' The Tory insisted: 'The future of Scotland and Britain is at stake, our country's security depends on a strong Conservative Party to stand up for what is right.' He recalled how former US president Ronald Reagan had 'once said the first duty of government is to protect' – but added that 'on every front the SNP and Labour are failing to do that'. Attacking both Labour and the SNP, Mr Bowie, who is also his party's shadow Scottish secretary, said: 'They haven't protected everyone's economic security, by raising taxes, or ripping away their winter fuel payment, even if they are now apparently going to hand it back to them. 'They haven't protected our energy security by insisting on no new oil and gas developments.' The Conservative MP continued: 'We can all see what is happening in the world, there is more risk out there, we as a country are more vulnerable. 'That is why the decisions of this Labour Government are so gravely concerning. Their economic incompetence, coupled with their frightening ineptitude when it comes to our energy security is making the United Kingdom more vulnerable.' He attacked the Labour Government over its 'madcap drive to clean power by 2030', as he said ministers were 'actively accelerating the decline of our North Sea'. This, he said, was 'forcing us to become increasingly exposed to over-reliance on imports from overseas, imports that are shipped in diesel-chugging tankers across the Atlantic from America or from Norwegian wells'. The Tory said the opposition to new oil and gas developments meant 'investment is drying up, work is being put on pause, companies are literally shutting up shop and jobs are being lost'. But he added: 'This hostility for our oil and gas workers is not simply the preserve of the zealots in the Labour Party. 'The SNP have their fingerprints all over the job losses, the well closures.' Mr Bowie added: 'We need Conservative leadership because we know where the SNP and Labour will take us.' He also used his speech to attack the 'snake oil salesmen' in Reform UK, insisting that Nigel Farage's party do not 'care one jot for Scotland, or for our United Kingdom'. The Tory said: 'Let me be clear. Reform is quite simply not a conservative party, not a unionist party, frankly they are not a serious party.'
