The chancellor’s comments signal that the public should not expect support for everybody.<\/p>\n
They suggest any package of support will not apply to the richest households, in contrast to the Energy Price Guarantee that was rolled out universally after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p>\n
The Treasury has calculated that the top 10% richest households, as users of the most amount of gas, got the biggest support, averaging \u00a31,350.<\/p>\n
Reeves said the government was working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure support goes to those most in need.<\/p>\n
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Reeves of leaving the UK economy “in tatters”.<\/p>\n
“We are getting poorer and our economy is increasingly fragile,” he said.<\/p>\n
On the targeted help Reeves mentioned, he asked: “What fiscal capacity does she believe she has to support those in need?”<\/p>\n
The chancellor also announced a “new anti-profiteering framework” for the Competition and Markets Authority, which she says will have powers to tackle any companies that exploit price rises.<\/p>\n
Companies which breach competition or consumer law, including through excessive pricing or by charging customers a higher price than advertised when they come to order, may be fined by the CMA. <\/p>\n