Over 13,070 “squeezed middle” families in Colchester won’t receive any help with soaring energy bills, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The Government is only offering a Council Tax rebate on households in council bands A-D. This means households in bands E-F across the country will not receive this support to help cope with soaring energy bills.

A staggering 13,070 households in Colchester are in Bands E and F, making up 15.5% of homes in the area. This is just above the national average of 15% of homes in Bands E and F across England and Wales.

The figures are based on analysis of official council tax data by the Liberal Democrats, who warned that the Conservatives are abandoning the “squeezed middle” and leaving families in Colchester out in the cold.

The party has set out a “cost of living rescue plan” that would save struggling families in Colchester nearly £1,000 each this year. This would include doubling and expanding the Warm Home Discount, scrapping the planned National Insurance tax hike and ensuring low-income families can access cheaper broadband deals.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Martin Goss said:

“Thousands of families in Colchester facing skyrocketing energy bills have been left out in the cold by the Conservatives.

“This plan is a betrayal of the squeezed middle, who face a triple whammy of rising mortgage costs, soaring energy bills and unfair tax hikes. 

“This could be the final straw for households who are drowning in endless increases to their monthly bills.

“The Liberal Democrats’ rescue plan would save struggling families up to £1,000 this year. We are demanding that the Conservatives drop their unfair tax hike, and focus on tackling the cost of living crisis instead of making it worse.”

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