GMB’s Martin Lewis warns ‘millions will be thrown into fuel poverty’ as he implores government to act on energy prices in impassioned speech

Martin Lewis has been applauded by Good Morning Britain viewers after calling on the government to take action to prevent rising energy costs.

The Money Saving Expert joined Susanna Reid and Richard Bacon on Wednesday’s edition of the ITV programme where he warned that ‘millions of people will be thrown into fuel poverty.’

According to some predictions, energy bills could be hiked by more than 50% in April for millions of households that are on a standard tariff.

In April the price cap, which limits the amounts that suppliers can charge, will rise.

It is currently at an already record-beating £1,277, but analysts at Investec think this could go up to £1,995 in three months’ time.

‘I have been calling on the government, it has to intervene, it has to do something,’ Martin stressed.

Martin Lewis implored the government to act now (Picture: ITV)

‘There are lots of people out there who can afford the increase and won’t like it, but there are also millions of people who will be thrown into fuel poverty, who ill get close to having that choice between heating and eating.’

Martin continued: ‘The government for too long has had blanket solutions on what it does in the energy market and I’m afraid it’s always gone from market-based solutions.

‘I can tell the government now; we know now what is coming in April. Don’t say in April, “Oh, we didn’t have time to do anything”

‘You have time, you have ability, you have to look at intervening… what we have to do is make sure the millions of people who do not have enough income to pay a £600 rise on energy bills at a typical rate get the money, so they don’t have to turn the heating off or the electricity off or starve.’

It’s predicted that ‘millions of people will be thrown into fuel poverty’ (Picture: PA)

Viewers raced to Twitter to commend Martin for ‘telling it how it is’, with one person writing: ‘Imagine if we didn’t have Martin Lewis warning us.’

‘Martin Lewis was amazing this morning,’ another added. ‘Get him back on your show he was passionate and knowledgeable about his subject.’

The rises in bills are due to a major spike in global gas prices, which have been pushed up by high demand around the world.

Trade body Energy UK’s chief executive said last month that the government could cut each household bill by £90 by slashing taxes or VAT.

Boris Johnson, however, has poured cold water on calls for VAT to be removed from domestic fuel bills, describing it as a ‘blunt instrument’.

More: Good Morning Britain

The Prime Minister said ministers have not ruled out further assistance for households facing big increases in energy charges when the price cap is reviewed in April.

But he suggested that scrapping VAT was not the most effective way to help those under the greatest pressure.

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