'Energy firms give lavish returns to shareholders while the elderly freeze'

04 May 2023 , 21:27

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In the first three months of this year, Shell has made £7.6billion (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Nearly nine million people in the UK cannot afford to heat their homes.

They include pensioners who travel on buses to keep warm and families who have to choose between heating and eating.

While these households struggle, the oil and gas firms are raking in ever greater profits.

In the first three months of this year, Shell has made £7.6billion and BP £4bn.

These are not the profits of enterprise, endeavour and innovation – they are the spoils of Vladimir Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, which has sent energy prices soaring.

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These firms have no more shame about earning money from bloodshed than they have about profiteering as the elderly freeze.

They have given lavish returns to shareholders when greater investment in alternative energy would help limit global warming.

The Tories could have imposed a proper windfall tax to help families in full poverty.

Instead, they have stood on the sidelines as the oil and gas bosses stuff their pockets with ever more undeserved riches.

Pointless IDea

There was no need to introduce a requirement to show ID at polling stations as all the figures show ballot box fraud is virtually non-existent in this country.

To make matters worse, having imposed this unnecessary law, the Government then failed to publicise it. Unsurprisingly, thousands of voters were turned away from polling stations yesterday. Some of them were in tears at being denied their democratic right.

We don’t know the exact number hit as ministers have refused to monitor the changes.

A Government which locks people out of the ballot box is not a Government that deserves to remain in power.

It’s showtime

Eurovision has certainly changed since the days of ABBA and Bucks Fizz.

But while the contest is famed for serving up some weird as well as wonderful acts, it never fails to be on song – so bring it on!

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Voice of the Mirror