The Business Secretary said that the government had been in talks over a support package, but an insider suggests otherwise
A source from inside the Treasury has rubbished reports that a potential support package could be delivered to energy companies struggling to keep up with demand as both electric and fuel prices soar.
Brits were warned of a difficult winter earlier this month, with both the prospect of not only the Universal Credit cuts but an increase in their energy bills of at least £139 a month.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Andrew Marr that he had been “working very closely” with the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, on financial aid for firms who are struggling in the energy sector. However, these rumours were quick to be quashed by the Treasury.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng tells #Marr he's been "working very closely" with the chancellor on energy prices
A Treasury source has told the BBC Mr Kwarteng was "mistaken," adding "the Treasury and the chancellor have not been in any talks"
https://t.co/3du5Wm7Vkl #Marr pic.twitter.com/0dclKg5A6K— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 10, 2021
Shortly after his appearance on The Andrew Marr Show, ITV‘s Shehab Khan tweeted that he asked in an insider, “did Kwarteng just make that up?” – to which the source simply replied: “Yes”.
So, did Kwasi Kwarteng just make that up I ask?
Treasury source: "Yes"
— Shehab Khan ITV (@ShehabKhan) October 10, 2021
Conversely, he then went on to speak to Trevor Philips on Sky News and when he was asked if he had approached the Treasury about potential subsidies, Kwarteng replied: “No, I haven’t. We’ve already got subsidies in place and it’s very clear that a lot of those are working.
He went on to explain how “On the consumer side we’ve got an energy price cap, and on the industry side we have measures where we support industries, heavy electricity users”, adding that he is “speaking to government colleagues, particularly in the Treasury to try and see a way through this.
Phillips pressed him for further clairifcation as it seems that, as well as fuel shortages and electricty bills going up, mixed messaging will also lead to concern in many homes across the UK.
Speaking to Sky's
@RidgeOnSunday
, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said he was "convinced we will have full energy supply" despite soaring wholesale gas prices around the world.Read more: https://t.co/ykmeeJD8DX pic.twitter.com/NmQ1laNvnz
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 10, 2021
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