Gas and electricity prices are going up and up – people are worried sick about how they’ll heat their homes and put the lights on over the winter.

But the four million households in Britain who pay for their energy with a prepayment meter face an even bigger challenge. Not only are they unable to spread the cost of gas and electricity over the year, they’re also forced to pay a higher price for the very same gas and electricity that everyone else gets.

This is outrageous, and needs to end now. It’s especially immoral when you hear that people on prepayment meters typically have less than half the disposable income as people who pay monthly.

Even before the energy crisis, prepayment customers were struggling – one in seven went without energy because they had no credit. That means they had no lights, no oven, no hot water and no heating.

Imagine what it’s going to be like for people now. Labour would end this injustice and make sure people on prepayment meters never again pay over the odds for their gas and electricity.

But we know that more action is needed. We’re in the midst of an energy emergency that is only going to get worse. That’s why Labour would act now to bring bills down, paid for by extra tax from the oil and gas producers who are making eye-watering profits.

Over the next few days, Labour leader Keir Starmer will say more about our plans to give people the security they need. The Conservatives have lost control of the economy and have nothing to offer.

They need to get a grip and take urgent action, but instead they’re too busy fighting each other to do what’s right for the country. Only Labour will do what it takes to get us through this national emergency, and build the stronger, more secure economy Britain deserves.