An opposition motion to scrap VAT on household energy bills has been defeated after only one MP in the county voted in favour of it.
The motion called for a cut to VAT on bills for a year in response to rising energy prices. Critics suggest that such a change would be inconsequential, with VAT only making up around 5% of an average dual fuel bill.
The motion was defeated by 229 votes to 319 votes, with all of the county’s Conservative MPs voting ‘no’.
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP for the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, voted in favour of the motion.
Mr Farron said: “We have a cost of living crisis with bills on food, fuel and energy on the rise and the Government set to impose big tax hikes on working people in April.
“Scrapping VAT on household energy bills would have been a positive move to help those especially on low incomes, so I’m really disappointed to be the only Cumbrian MP to vote in favour of doing that.”
