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Labour pressed over windfall tax | Labour pressed over windfall tax |
(31 minutes later) | |
Union leaders and Labour MPs have called for a windfall tax on energy companies, saying current efforts to tackle fuel poverty are not enough. | Union leaders and Labour MPs have called for a windfall tax on energy companies, saying current efforts to tackle fuel poverty are not enough. |
The Labour conference voted in favour of the issue of a windfall tax being sent to Labour's National Policy Forum for further consideration. | |
Tony Woodley, of the giant Unite union, said ministers must "sweep away vested interests" to help the most vulnerable. | |
Ministers have said they have no plans at the moment for a windfall tax. | Ministers have said they have no plans at the moment for a windfall tax. |
Chancellor Alistair Darling who addressed conference on Monday, said energy firms were doing their bit. | |
'Stark choice' | 'Stark choice' |
He defended the energy efficiency and insulation plan, announced earlier this month, saying it had secured more financial support from power firms than would have been forthcoming via a one-off tax. | He defended the energy efficiency and insulation plan, announced earlier this month, saying it had secured more financial support from power firms than would have been forthcoming via a one-off tax. |
Critics have said the £910m plan is flawed because energy firms will simply pass on the cost of funding new schemes onto fuel bills. | Critics have said the £910m plan is flawed because energy firms will simply pass on the cost of funding new schemes onto fuel bills. |
There can never be a stronger case for a Robin Hood tax than now Michael Meacher, MP | There can never be a stronger case for a Robin Hood tax than now Michael Meacher, MP |
In a debate on fuel poverty, ministers faced a succession of calls for a tax on energy company profits, which have soared on the back of rising global oil prices. | In a debate on fuel poverty, ministers faced a succession of calls for a tax on energy company profits, which have soared on the back of rising global oil prices. |
Former government minister Michael Meacher said millions of pensioners and families faced "a stark choice" this winter of whether to pay for rising fuel bills or to feed themselves. | Former government minister Michael Meacher said millions of pensioners and families faced "a stark choice" this winter of whether to pay for rising fuel bills or to feed themselves. |
"There can never be a stronger case for a Robin Hood tax than now," he said. | "There can never be a stronger case for a Robin Hood tax than now," he said. |
"Is our government on the side of big business or the fuel poor?" Mr Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, added. | "Is our government on the side of big business or the fuel poor?" Mr Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, added. |
Calling for a windfall tax to help working families, Mr Woodley said "lagging the lofts won't stop us lagging in the polls". | Calling for a windfall tax to help working families, Mr Woodley said "lagging the lofts won't stop us lagging in the polls". |
Earlier, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said the British people were "crying out for change" including "curbs on the excesses of markets". | Earlier, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said the British people were "crying out for change" including "curbs on the excesses of markets". |
"These are tough times for government, for the economy but, most of all, for workers and their families," he said. | "These are tough times for government, for the economy but, most of all, for workers and their families," he said. |
But Business Secretary John Hutton said a windfall tax would send the wrong signal as the UK desperately needed substantial investment from power firms in new sources of energy. | But Business Secretary John Hutton said a windfall tax would send the wrong signal as the UK desperately needed substantial investment from power firms in new sources of energy. |
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