Britain's High Energy Bills: The Permacrisis that keeps on burning
The cost of living has remained as Britons' top concern since More in Common started our biggest issues tracker in 2022.
The high energy bills they have had to manage are a dominant driver of these cost of living concerns.
This report, based on a survey of 2,000 respondents and focus groups conversations in the Red Wall constituency of Wolverhampton West and of 'Stevenage Women' in the traditional bellweather constituency of Stevenage looks at the impact three years of high energy bills have had on Britons and the role high energy bills are playing in driving support away from the established parties.
The report outlines that high energy bills have a profound impact on Britons - seriously harming their mental health and their quality of life. For many Britons, there is little respite in sight with three quarters concerned about the likely size of their energy bills this Winter.
The report examines the causes of high energy bills in the eyes of Britons and want they want those in power to do to bring them down.
Key findings include:
- Three quarters of Britons are concerned about their energy bills this winter and 60 per cent don’t think energy bills will ever become more affordable.
- Concern over winter energy bills extends far beyond those traditionally seen as vulnerable and only drops among those on a household income over £100,000. For all other income bands at least two-thirds of Britons are concerned.
- Britons have little confidence in the government to reduce bills - 43 per cent either believe the government has no plan or one which is making things actively worse
- Financial worries and concerns about energy bills are driving Labour’s poll woes - among those concerned about the size of their winter bills Labour is retaining just 57 per cent of its 2024 voters.