Damien Green denies copying Ed Miliband energy policy

Gas ring - credit: Amer Ghazzal / Demotix/Demotix/Press Association Images

Work and Pensions Secretary Damien Green has rejected claims the Conservatives’ new pledge for a cap on energy bills is a copy of Ed Miliband’s 2015 price freeze policy.

Appearing on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, Green confirmed the Tory manifesto will contain plans for a cap on energy bills, which would cap bills for seven out of 10 households paying standard variable tariffs.

He said: “There will be a lot about energy policy in the manifesto. Obviously there will be more details then."

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“But absolutely, I think that the people feel that some of the big energy companies have taken advantage of them with the tariffs they’ve got.”

But Green was forced to deny the policy was the same as one outlined by Ed Miliband before the 2015 election, which was fiercely criticised by Conservative politicians.

Following reports the Conservatives would pledge a cap, Miliband tweeted “Tories in for kicking from Sun and Mail tomorrow for energy policy. Just wait: Marxist madness, anti-business, back to 70s...”

Under Miliband’s policy bills would have been frozen until 2017 so they could fall but not rise.

Green said: "We would have Ofgem setting the limits. So it would be a cap, it would be more flexible, it would be able to reflect market conditions [and] the market would still have an influence.

"That would mean in practical terms that if the oil price fell again, then consumers would benefit, which they wouldn't have done under [former Labour leader] Ed Miliband's proposal."