Yes carried the vote comfortably, but the most-respected Yes argument was about something else entirely: “Nationalise energy and gas.” The payment itself got a lukewarm defence from the people who backed it.
One Yes voter was blunt: “I wouldn't want it rescinded. However, it's not the real answer.” Another liked the targeting, noting that bands A to D are “the smaller, lower value properties”, and a third called the bank surcharge “textbook social democracy”. Two Yes voters reached for the same phrase, a drop in the ocean, even while backing it.
The most-respected No case was just as unimpressed with the policy: “a meaningless gimmick that just kicks the can down the road”. Others said “The money goes straight to the energy companies”, and one wanted it more targeted, since “I am in the fortunate position of not especially needing it”. Many No voters then turned to supply: “Drill, baby, drill”, scrapping net zero, cutting levies.
That makes the debate an argument about energy policy more than about £100. Both camps called the payment small, and both sides reached for ownership and supply as the real answer, one No voter even demanding that energy companies be renationalised, the same remedy as the top Yes voter.
In the end, voters on both sides agreed on one thing: this is “a sticking plaster over an arterial bleed”.
76 Opinions
Feels like a meaningless gimmick that just kicks the can down the road instead of tackling the structural issues that created the cost of living crisis.
Nationalise energy and gas. Take back control of our oilfields (currently all privately held by corporations) start building more nuclear and renewables.
The money goes straight to the energy companies.
No it’s very simple let’s stop the circular movement of tax & payments. Repeal the Climate Change Act, abolish Net Zero, drill frack & exploit gas & oil resources. Also legislate against the Utility Companies unfair practices. Benefit will be more that a paltry £100 which will be consumed by other taxes. A gimmick using our money to mollify us.
Just reduce the bills. Uncoupled gas from electric and drill for our own gas
Drill, baby, drill -- problem solved
While any help is welcomr, this is just a vicious circle where bills imcrease, energy company profits go up, and they then give out tax payer money to offset the problem. We'll all pay for it in other ways with higher taxes.
Of course I'll appreciate £100 coming my way (it's money I've paid into the treasury by tax anyway so doesn't exactly feel like a gift 🤷🏻♂️). But it's frankly embarrassing that we as a country are in this situation. The priority should be generating more energy here at home by any means necessary.
This is a sticking plaster over an arterial bleed
Have people not realised that they are slowly being forced to rely on the state to get bye ?? Communism ,state control. Debt, 3 trillion and rising! Austerity is needed state needs shrinking. Quickly.