STRUGGLING constituents are dismayed about soaring energy bills and the "despicable" behaviour of the Prime Minister, according to Otley's MP.

Alex Sobel spoke out in Prime Minister's Questions last week about concerns over energy bills going through the roof and about Boris Johnson's own behaviour.

He told Mr Johnson:“I was out this weekend speaking to a constituent who has a cold and leaky house. She has already seen her bills go up from £100 to £170 a month. The Government have failed to insulate her house and failed to control her fuel bills. Bribing people with their own money is no plan."

He added:“The Prime Minister has no plan to cut VAT and no plan to get the oil and gas industry to contribute. Another constituent, who voted for the Prime Minister, went further and called him 'despicable'.

He asked:“What use is a Prime Minister who has no plan for families struggling with the cost of living and who has lost the trust of the people of this country?”

A one-off repayable £200 'discount' and a rebate on council tax bills have been announced by Rishi Sunak in a £9bn package in response to a £700-a-year rise in the average household’s energy bills in April. The £200 'discount' has been criticised because it will have to be paid back at rate of £40 per year - even by many who will never receive the loan.