Politicians should tell us what their energy arrangement are

What_time_is_it

I'd like to see politicians have to register their energy payment arrangements in the same way as they have to disclose their tax affairs and outside incomes.
Just basic level info would do - e.g. "SVR", or "prepayment" or "fixed deal taken at xx/xx/xx, expiring xx/xx/xx".
Then when they talk about the energy crisis on tv a caption could appear on the screen to inform the viewer what they themselves have decided to do. 

Exodi

What_time_is_it said:

I'd like to see politicians have to register their energy payment arrangements in the same way as they have to disclose their tax affairs and outside incomes.
Just basic level info would do - e.g. "SVR", or "prepayment" or "fixed deal taken at xx/xx/xx, expiring xx/xx/xx".
Then when they talk about the energy crisis on tv a caption could appear on the screen to inform the viewer what they themselves have decided to do. 

Can we include 'energy bills for second home put on expenses payable by the taxpayer' also? This would include potential future PM Liz Truss.

What_time_is_it

Can we include 'energy bills for second home put on expenses payable by the taxpayer' also? This would include potential future PM Liz Truss.

Good idea.
They could just list them:
Home 1 - SVR
Home 2 - Prepayment
Home 3 - SVR
etc...

It doesn't have to be a witch hunt. Just greater transparency on those who are making the decisions on the most important issues of the day.

pearl123

Politicions should do something now to help people with escalating energy prices. They need to do something now. 

MattMattMattUK

pearl123 said:

Politicions should do something now to help people with escalating energy prices. They need to do something now. 

Price are not changing until October, doing something "now" will not happen nor does it need to happen now. Something might happen when the new PM is installed, although if it is Truss I would not hold my breath. 

jrawle

What_time_is_it said:

I'd like to see politicians have to register their energy payment arrangements in the same way as they have to disclose their tax affairs and outside incomes.
Just basic level info would do - e.g. "SVR", or "prepayment" or "fixed deal taken at xx/xx/xx, expiring xx/xx/xx".
Then when they talk about the energy crisis on tv a caption could appear on the screen to inform the viewer what they themselves have decided to do. 

The reality is, for many of them it's the equivalent of money lost down the back of the sofa. Do you think Rishi Sunak, with an estimated £730m family fortune, worries about whether he's on a fixed or variable energy tariff?

spot1034

What_time_is_it said:

I'd like to see politicians have to register their energy payment arrangements in the same way as they have to disclose their tax affairs and outside incomes.
Just basic level info would do - e.g. "SVR", or "prepayment" or "fixed deal taken at xx/xx/xx, expiring xx/xx/xx".
Then when they talk about the energy crisis on tv a caption could appear on the screen to inform the viewer what they themselves have decided to do. 

As it is politicians who are largely responsible for the mess we are in, I assume you mean you would like this information so that you can do the opposite.

wakeupalarm

Sunak pledging to provide similar help with energy bills to his last package of measures, amounting to £400 a household and £650 for the most vulnerable – a £15bn overall package.

Truss plans would give high earners such as the prime minister a tax cut of £110, while those on the “national living wage” would only receive about £50 and pensioners nothing.

Of course under Sunak's plan he would receive multiple £400 payments for his multiple homes and under Truss's plan, she would be giving herself £110 tax cut and nothing for pensioners.

pochase

I seem to remember Sunak saying in May he would donate the £400 for second homes.

artyboy

And maybe they should publish details of their mortgages as well - how long are they fixed for. What is their income multiple and LTV. That would be a laugh eh...

Why not make them declare what supermarkets they go to. And what branded goods they prefer? That could sort out the Pepsi/Coke debate once and for all 

Not entirely sure what the OP is trying to achieve here through this proposed transparency - as others have mentioned, affordability is unlikely to be a big concern for a lot of politicians, so trying to get a useful steer from them based on their supplier and whether they are fixed or SVT is unlikely to be helpful.

Or is there a suggestion that they might be doing something 'dodgy' - maybe they have special low politician tariffs using a secret gas pipeline that mere mortals are not allowed to know about?

Grumpy_chap

What_time_is_it said:

I'd like to see politicians have to register their energy payment arrangements in the same way as they have to disclose their tax affairs and outside incomes.
Just basic level info would do - e.g. "SVR", or "prepayment" or "fixed deal taken at xx/xx/xx, expiring xx/xx/xx".
Then when they talk about the energy crisis on tv a caption could appear on the screen to inform the viewer what they themselves have decided to do. 

I am not sure what any of us would gain from this.
I doubt many politicians are on pre-payment meters so that would mean they will all be on "fixed deal expiring xxx" or "price cap".
I suspect that the proportion to have directly experienced energy supplier business failure will be the same as the proportion of the population at large to that exposure.
As the energy price challenge progresses, there will simply be no-one left on a "deal" of any kind and that will leave only "price cap".
Actually, politicians do not like being involved in micro-management issues so will be looking to find a way to get market pricing back somehow as soon as they possibly can.