LAST winter the tap water in the kitchen was sometimes too cold to drink straight away. So, Rachel Reeves, here’s another aspect of living in a colder climate than the south east of England. To have a shower, run a bath or even heat a kettle takes more energy up here than where you live, and that adds significantly to the cost of survival here.

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Almost all Scots know you’re going after the wrong people, and any money you do save will likely be offset by increased spending on health problems over the winter caused or exacerbated by the effects of people being unable to afford to properly heat their homes.

It was just over 13C in our living room at 8.30am on Saturday morning, which is too cold to sit still in without putting on extra layers or, God forbid, the heating, and it’s not October yet!

Andy Pearson
Carnoustie