AS I WRITE this article, we are seeing energy bills across East Lothian go up by an average of £149 from Tuesday.

The Labour Party promised people during the election campaign that they would cut fuel bills; however, energy prices are now going up by 10 per cent, adding £149 onto the average household bill.

Keir Starmer on June 9 said: "My Labour government will tackle the root causes of the cost-of-living crisis and help families save up to £300 off their energy bills.".

Anas Sarwar on June 24 said: "Every vote for Scottish Labour is a vote to cut bills."

These quotes obviously have no credibility now.

The increase will be especially concerning for pensioners, most of whom have had their winter fuel allowance taken away from them by the Labour Government. As I warned previously is the case with all austerity measures, this will hammer the most vulnerable in East Lothian. Scots cannot continue pay the price for Westminster failure.

In stark contrast, the SNP Government is working with energy companies on ambitious plans to create a social tariff, a policy which would slash energy costs for vulnerable households.

Households across East Lothian will now feel the consequences of Labour austerity and broken promises: rising energy bills.

These are the same households which have suffered for over a decade of bad decisions made at Westminster, whether it’s the two-child benefit cap or now slashed winter fuel payment – both of which are now Labour policies.

Douglas Alexander has broken his promise to the people of East Lothian, just as Labour have done with pensioners across Scotland. Such cruel betrayal has echoes of Tory rule.

Labour MSPs should back the SNP Government's efforts to introduce a social tariff and ensure those they represent in East Lothian are never priced out of heating their homes.