£84,000,000,000

Vast sum is paid out to energy firm shareholders, Martin Lewis slams the plan to increase our bills

-  GRAHAM HISCOTT

THE Tories' plan to raise the cap on energy bills is bound to damage the country, money expert Martin Lewis blasted yesterday.

It comes as analysis revealed five huge energy firms dished out a total of £84billion to shareholders last year.

He said: "The nation is already shivering with the damage of the cost of living crisis and it just seems to me there is no need to do this. I would ask the Chancellor to postpone this rise."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Lewis added: "To put this national act of harm of increasing the price guarantee for just three months, to throw another 1.7million people into fuel poverty, taking it to 8.4 million, it seems unnecessary.

Lewis said any cancellation would have to be before the March Budget, as by then people will have had letters about bill increases.