Commenting on the decision by Conservative MPs to vote down a windfall tax today (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Conservative MPs have chosen to side with profiteering oil and gas companies over working people.

“Millions are being walloped by soaring bills and prices – having been left badly exposed to this crisis after more than a decade of standstill wages and cuts to social security, overseen by successive Tory governments.

“All the while the likes of Shell and BP are registering eye-watering profits.

“Enough is enough. The chancellor must bring forward an emergency budget to give households grants to help with energy bills – funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants – and immediately increase Universal Credit and the minimum wage.”