Protests over soaring energy prices to take place across UK

theguardian.com:

Thousands of people will take to the streets in the UK in protest against the sharp rise in energy prices, as a cabinet minister said the government could not “completely nullify” the increases.

Demonstrations are due to take place on Saturday, including one outside Downing Street in central London, and others in Cardiff and Birmingham. The protests follow a major increase in the energy price cap on Friday, with an average household gas and electricity bill rising to £1,971 a year. A further jump in October could take the cost up to £2,600.

Groups including the Trades Union Congress and anti-poverty campaigners have voiced alarm at the changes, and said that when combined with increasing inflation and low pay, it could push people into “impossible choices” between heating their homes or eating.

A spokesperson for the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, the organisers of Saturday’s series of events, said: “Public outrage over the cost of living crisis is growing fast, and our response is gaining momentum.”

Its national secretary, the former Labour MP Laura Pidcock, said: “We tell them about children going hungry and the government shrug, politically speaking.”

The price increase is driven by more demand on energy as economies recover from the effects of the Covid pandemic, with supply unable to keep up. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also exacerbated the issue, with some countries stopping or limiting their purchasing of Russia’s oil and gas.

Ministers have announced a council tax rebate for April and a £200 loan available from October to help soften the burden, but the Labour party has said there should be a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to help provide support to those in need.

In France, the government has limited