SOUTH Lakes MP Tim Farron has signed a cross-party letter to the Chancellor urging him to suspend VAT on electricity bills for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

In the letter, the MPs say: “Given that most of us are spending a lot more time at home self-isolating, there is no doubt that our energy bills will dramatically increase. For many people in the UK, some of whom are hard hit by fuel poverty, a VAT moratorium on energy bills would be a huge help in the weeks and months ahead.”

Tim said: “We all know that to beat coronavirus and save lives, we need to stay at home as much as humanly possible. Naturally this is going to lead to bigger energy bills which for many is going to put even further strain on those who are already struggling to cope with the financial impact of coronavirus.”