Last week or the week before Darling went to gas and electricity suppliers (private companies) and told them he wasn't impressed by them increasing their prices by 15% and that they should not do it because not everyone would be able to afford it.
Which is odd. These gas and electricity suppliers have to buy there commodities on the open market, and pay the going rate. Some times the "going rate" has gone up because of political meddeling. Any fluctuations in price have to be passed on to the consumer. Also consumers are still free to shop around.
Last night I purchase 45.18 litres of unleaded, this cost me £46.04. But Darling had £6.86 for VAT, then £22.987 for duty so the petrol only cost £16.19, that's 35.84 pence per litre.
How can Darling complain to private companies who charge the going rate when he has nearly trebbled the price of another commodity and does so with impunity?
