The Ulster Unionist Party’s Finance spokesperson, Steve Aiken OBE, has called on the Government to take decisive action now following Putin’s threat to shut off gas to the EU and the impact it will have on the UK.

Steve Aiken OBE said:

“The threat today by Russian President Vladimir Putin to shut off gas to the EU, is a serious escalation. It smacks of desperation and underlines just what a strategic disaster his invasion of the Ukraine has been.

“Many across Europe, including our Nation, will be hit by rapidly escalating energy prices, forcing ever more people into fuel poverty or worse.

“This is an emergency situation, created by a war on our continent. Our Government must now consider wartime measures; these should include the mandatory cap on prices, legislation to prevent anyone being cut off from utilities, and if necessary, the nationalisation of strategic assets.

“At the very least, windfall taxes must be brought in to help defray the impact on our most vulnerable. In a time of international crisis, just leaving it to the market is unacceptable. Our government must act now.”