May vows to cap energy bill increases if Tories win election

Theresa May says she is "fed up with rip-off energy prices" and will cap bill increases if the Conservatives win the next election.

Writing in The Sun newspaper, the Prime Minister confirms plans unveiled last month to protect gas and electricity customers on standard variable tariffs from "sudden and unjustified" increases.

"It is clear to me that the energy market is not working for ordinary working families. Too many people simply aren't getting a fair deal," she says.

"So I am making this promise: if I am re-elected on June 8, I will take action to end this injustice by introducing a cap on unfair energy price rises".

Mrs May quotes a government backed report last year which found "households are already paying £1.4bn a year more than they need to".

But political rivals have accused the Conservatives of hypocrisy.

:: British Gas owner in election plea on bills

In 2015 Labour made capping utility bills a central policy in its manifesto which David Cameron cited as proof the leader wanted to live in a "Marxist universe".

The Liberal Democrats' Ed Davey said: "It is never a good idea to copy the economic strategy of Ed Miliband.