Nick Clegg challenges Brown over rising energy prices
Nick Clegg has used his first Prime Minister's questions as Liberal Democrat leader to urge Gordon Brown to press gas and electricity companies to "end the scandal of the poorest families paying the most for their energy needs". Mr Clegg warned that an estimated 25,000 people were predicted to die from the cold this winter. He said "countless British families face fuel bills of £1,000 or more for the first time" this year. This follows figures published by the Liberal Democrats which show recent price rises in gas and electricity have completely wiped out the value of the Winter Fuel Payment, highlighting that on average the cost of energy bills in a typical household for a pensioner aged over 75 has risen by £350.
