Nigel Farage has questioned a “lack of coverage” from the mainstream media over an Energy Bill amendment that could see UK homeowners face jail.
The bill includes provisions for imposing penalties on homeowners who fail to comply with new energy performance regulations.
Penalties could mean imprisonment of up to one year or fines amounting to £15,000.
Rishi Sunak is under pressure from backbench Tory MPs over the bill with figures such as Jacob Rees-Mogg rallying against its introduction.
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GB News presenter Nigel Farage has hit out at the bill, dubbing it “sinister”, despite its cross-party support.
“There’s something else going on in this bill which I believe to be far more sinister”, Farage said.
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“Frankly, even though Parliament has just come back, I am totally astonished at the lack of media debate and coverage.
“We’ll find out later what amendments have passed and what happened, so we’ll know the actual shape of this legislation before it heads to the House of Lords.
“There are, unbelievably, it seems to me, provisions in this bill that would allow for the creation of criminal offences.
“Individual householders that don’t tell the truth or don’t meet up to new energy requirements can be prosecuted.
Jacob Rees-Mogg is opposing the Energy Bill
PA“That seems to me to be truly and utterly extraordinary.”
In the Energy Bill, it is stated: “Energy performance regulations may provide for the creation of criminal offences.”
Debate has arisen has a result among MPs, with some rallying against what they see as draconian measures.
The Bill seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, unlock investment in low-carbon energy technologies, increase resilience and produce more energy in the UK, and lower energy bills in the longer term.
The Government avoided a potential rebellion from some of its backbenchers by announcing ahead of Tuesday’s report stage debate that planning permission for onshore wind farms was to be relaxed.
The Bill cleared the Commons after MPs voted 280 to 19, majority 261, to approve it at third reading – although the division list showed nine Tory MPs, including Sir Jacob, rebelled to oppose it.
It comes after Tory MP Craig Mackinlay dubbed the bill “completely offensive” during a fiery rant on GB News.
“I think it’s a horrendous bill”, he said.
“It’s 379 pages, there’s 144 pages of amendments, many of them in my name.
“It’s a bill of yesteryear, it was founded on Boris who certainly drunk the Kool-Aid on many of these environmental issues.
“This is a truly horrific bill. It allows all sorts of intrusive powers to tell you exactly what you must and mustn’t do.
“I would rather it was scrapped and we start again.”
