The Tories’ muddled energy and climate change policy has been exposed

A perfect storm is battering the UK’s energy sector. Due to a mix of high demand, maintenance issues at some gas sites, and lower solar and wind output, wholesale gas prices are up 250 per cent since January, and a handful of energy firms have folded. Some economists are suggesting the huge rise in gas prices could be an indicator of nascent inflation, and senior Tories have warned that a looming ‘cost of living crisis’ could erupt into the biggest political issue of the decade.

Ofgem has announced that it has appointed British Gas to take on 350,000 customers from People’s Energy, one of two smaller suppliers which collapsed last week. Bulb – energy provider to 1.7m customers in the UK – is pleading with the government for a cash injection. We are still a long way from summer 2018, when pubs couldn’t pull pints and World Cup barbecues were in peril, but the picture isn’t pretty.