"Ed Miliband: Labour would freeze energy prices
Labour would freeze gas and electricity bills for every home and business in the UK for 20 months if it wins the 2015 election, Ed Miliband has said.
The big energy firms would be split up and governed by a new tougher regulator to give people "a fairer deal".
Labour says the move will save average households £120 and businesses £1,800 - but cost the energy giants £4.5bn.
The Labour leader said energy firms had been overcharging "for too long" and it was time to "reset" the market.
Speaking without notes at his party's annual conference in Brighton, Mr Miliband set out his vision of how "Britain can do better" under Labour, with an economy that works for "ordinary people once again".
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Analysis
image of Ross Hawkins Ross Hawkins Political correspondent
Ed Miliband has long had the energy companies in his sights.
Remember the speech in which he drew a distinction between businesses that were "predators" and "producers"?
He was talking about energy firms at the time.
His party has been encouraging consumers to get together to switch energy suppliers.
The thinking is obvious: people feel poorer because bills are going up, and energy bills are a big part of that.
But we have yet to see the detail.
Voters will ask whether Labour really could freeze energy prices.
If it were possible, to what extent would a Labour government have to interfere in the business of private companies?
And would any attempt to directly intervene in prices conjure memories of Labour leaders of old, and leave voters asking just how far the man who boasted he was bringing back socialism might go?
He also said Labour would support measures to give 16 and 17-year-olds votes in general elections."
BBC News - Ed Miliband: Labour would freeze energy prices
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Labour would freeze gas and electricity bills for every home and business in the UK for 20 months if it wins the 2015 election, Ed Miliband has said.
The big energy firms would be split up and governed by a new tougher regulator to give people "a fairer deal".
Labour says the move will save average households £120 and businesses £1,800 - but cost the energy giants £4.5bn.
The Labour leader said energy firms had been overcharging "for too long" and it was time to "reset" the market.
Speaking without notes at his party's annual conference in Brighton, Mr Miliband set out his vision of how "Britain can do better" under Labour, with an economy that works for "ordinary people once again".
Continue reading the main story
Analysis
image of Ross Hawkins Ross Hawkins Political correspondent
Ed Miliband has long had the energy companies in his sights.
Remember the speech in which he drew a distinction between businesses that were "predators" and "producers"?
He was talking about energy firms at the time.
His party has been encouraging consumers to get together to switch energy suppliers.
The thinking is obvious: people feel poorer because bills are going up, and energy bills are a big part of that.
But we have yet to see the detail.
Voters will ask whether Labour really could freeze energy prices.
If it were possible, to what extent would a Labour government have to interfere in the business of private companies?
And would any attempt to directly intervene in prices conjure memories of Labour leaders of old, and leave voters asking just how far the man who boasted he was bringing back socialism might go?
He also said Labour would support measures to give 16 and 17-year-olds votes in general elections."
BBC News - Ed Miliband: Labour would freeze energy prices
Magic!
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