Former Chair of Energy Committee Slams Labour Government for "caving to pressure" from Energy Giants

Responding to reports that the UK Government has abandoned its proposed "zonal pricing" reform for electricity, former Chair of the Energy Select Committee and now ALBA NEC member, Angus Brendan MacNeil, has condemned the decision as "yet another example of Scotland being sidelined to protect the interests of the South of England and big energy corporations."

The abandoned zonal pricing scheme, supported by Octopus Energy, would have allowed electricity prices to reflect local supply and demand. Under the plans, areas rich in renewables, like Scotland, would have seen cheaper bills.

Commenting, Angus Brendan MacNeil said:

“Scotland is a net exporter of electricity, yet energy bills in Scotland are higher than anywhere else in the UK. Zonal pricing was a modest, common-sense reform that would have recognised Scotland’s role in powering the UK and brought long-overdue fairness to our bills.

“By caving to pressure from the energy giants and abandoning a policy that would have incentivised clean energy use in the right places, Labour are undermining their own climate agenda. It is short-term thinking at its worst.

“Labour MPs from Scotland are once again proving how spineless they are. When it comes to standing up for Scotland on energy, they’re sticking to their usual routine: mute, missing, and marching to London’s tune.

“Scotland deserves better. We deserve control over our own energy policy, one that puts the needs of our communities first, not last. It is clear the only way we can do that is by becoming an independent country.”