Kenilworth's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate has slammed the "out of touch" energy bills support announced in yesterday's (March 15) budget.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled his first budget to the House of Commons on Wednesday, confirming that energy bills will remain capped at £2,500 annually for the next three months.

The £400 winter discount will not be renewed.

And with help for small businesses struggling to pay their bills set to be cut back from April, local Lib Dem Jenny Wilkinson said the government's plans are "so out of touch they might as well be on a different planet".

"The Conservatives government's choice to hike energy bills will come as a hammer blow to families in our area already struggling with soaring mortgages and rents, shopping bills and tax rises," she said.

"These plans will push more families into fuel poverty, while oil and gas companies making record profits are let off the hook.

"The Conservatives are so out of touch they might as well be on a different planet.

"In these tough times, local people deserve a proper plan to tackle this cost-of-living crisis. That means a proper windfall tax, a £500 cut to energy bills and investment in our local health services."

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to cut the energy price guarantee by £500 per household, funded through a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies.

This would mean average bills would drop to £1,971 a year, with the support in place until April 2024.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling extra targeted support for the least well-off households, including doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.