Windfall tax is not the answer. The government should reduce the amount of tax charged and ensure that the energy prices are reduced by the same amount, thereby reducing the cost to all consumers. They will receive a 35% increase in energy tax. Share it!

Anthony Barraclough, St Ives, England

If you invest 10s of billions of dollars you'd want to make hundreds of millions in returns too. Before you rant, remember every pension plan in the country probably owns the shares - this windfall tax would take money from YOUR savings account.

Adam, London, UK

We don't want a windfall tax. We want a fair deal to the consumer
which is fair price. There should be a rebate to all involved. The taxman should not benefit yet again out of peoples misery

bob, liverpool, uk

I don't know why this debate exists, why the politicians 'considering' the 'issue' can't understand a simple principle.

A UK chancellor can only tax UK profits. BP actually made a loss on its UK operations in Quarter 2 this year - it has already paid taxes locally on its non-UK profits.

Ian, London, UK

Its not in the public interest - its because Brown has bankrupted the country following 10 years mis-managing the economy.

Timothy Murray, London,

The Government just use the penalties they impose on the utilities as another way of taxing the public. WE pay the bill, WE should be refunded. That's why the Government does nothing to limit the greed of the suppliers!

Sue Southern, Corby, Northants

Does anyone actually believe this government would use the money to 'help the poor'? About as much as it uses the 'road tax' to pay for roads, I do fear.

Arthur, Newcastle,

Petrol companies buy their raw product -- oil -- and use it to "manufacture" the product they sell in the forecourt. I wonder how their profit as a percentage of their costs compares with other products such as clothing, furniture, shoes, etc. Let's not over react to "profits" without some thought.

Dennis Eagan, Colorado Springs,

I cannot believe we are championing a 'Windfall Tax' on the energy companies. What good will this do the consumer who has already paid to give these huge profits to the Utilities? A windfall tax will only give the treasury more money and not the consumer.

Steve Maddox, Hatfield, UK

how would the Government know if there was a public outcry?-its not as if they are listening

peter c, devizes, wessex

The people who suffer from the high prices are the CUSTOMERS! Rather than windfall taxes which benefits only the government, the companies should be required to return a percentage of their customers bills to the CUSTOMER.

SMITH, Kent,

This would be a big mistake all they would do is increase the price even more to compensate.

A Seymour, Peterborough, UK

How come our society has to even debate the issue of windfall taxes on such massive profits? Acces to water, heat and energy should be considered the basic human right of everyone living in this country. The elderly's income tax contributions paid for the infrastructure that is now privatised!!!!!!!

Andrew Melchior, Manchester, UK

utter stupidity.

it might well be popular in the short term, but when BP leave, when shell leave, when all the highly profitable companies leave britain, what then, do labour ring their hands about why people are losing their jobs? not to mention the reduction in their tax take.

will, Grimsby, uk

but the money from the tax can either pay for another war or be given to Zimbabwe.

Philip Barnes, preston, england

What a fool he is, if NuLab sucks more money out of the energy firms then they will have to protect their balance sheets by raising prices which means that customers will have to pay even more.

david webb, bournemouth, uk

Windfall tax? How does that help people pay their energy bills? Just another wheeze for Alastair to pour more money into his big black hole of debt.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

I agree with the comments already that a windfall tax is nothing more than a tax on Joe Public by higher energy prices. Whilst companies continue to manipulate energy prices either directly or indirectly the consumer will continue to pay more than they ought. What about shareholders divi - up again!

Richie, Cardiff, Wales

at a time when an increaing percentage of the population suffer from fuel poverty, is it not fair that the government attempt to do what we voted them in for? by distributing the wealth from companies that are making huge profits, to the poor who will find it difficult to stay warm/alive this winter

john, Sheffield, UK

I'm one of the owners of a large North Sea oil and gas company (a shareholder). My company has reduced its investment in the UK North Sea sector, and hence its production because of the high level of UK taxes. More taxes mean my company will invest even less in the UK. Be careful what you wish for!

Stephen , Huddersfield, UK

Like John, I don't want the government re-distribtuing money inefficiently. It would be another tax-credit fiasco! It's not as if profits don't re-enter the economy. Dividends are taxed too. Shell might not leave the UK market, but they would probably relocate for tax purposes at UK plc's expense.

J smith, Bristol,

Why not buy shares in these companies and use the dividends to contirbute to paying your bill? Can't afford to buy shares or save? Well, this is an entirely different problem and is a result of a country who has a weak propensity to save.

J smith, Bristol,

Nationalise??? Are you mad? Those profts go into all our pension funds (unless you're public sector of course) and I can tell you that after 11 years of Labour mine needs every penny it can get.

Ben, Bristol,

Use the windfall tax to build gas storage in this country, if the gas companies wont do it, do it for them with their money!

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Come on Labour, you are supposed to be at the helm, but have lost your way. Now is your opportunity to repair your ailing heart. RE- NATIONALISE THE UTILITIES; WATER, GAS, ELECTRICITY. Stop being used by greedy overpaid pirates from stealing vast sums from the increasingly impoverished electorate.

Leon, London, UK

Utility and fuel companies would do well to look at what's happening with bank charges. There's going to be the most almighty backlash from the public if they don't start playing fair.

As if Shell would stop doing business in the UK because it 'only' made £2 billion because half was taken away.

Robert, Manchester, UK

I guess the biggest windfall over global rises in fuel has been taken by the Chancellor.
We could ask why we are still paying 5% tax on domestic fuel when the price has doubled over the past year! Could the Chancellor not show an example by reducing it to 2.5% at least and still raking in the same

Richard, Greater Manchester,

Typical socialism. Tax tax tax. Then recycle peoples money back to them - minus of course the horrendous civil service costs of so-doing.

I take it the government would not bail out the oil companies for their loss of earnings if the price of oil suddenly went the other way?

Thought not.

Jon Leigh, Southern, France

The French and the Germans have each installed strategic, high capacity gas storage so thay they may 'stock up' with gas reserves during the Summer period. We have a couple of weeks storage at best. Why is our government so incompetent and failing to provide us with adequate strategic reserves ?

Dr. Jimmy, Nottingham, England

That is 'fine' for the Chancellor. It would go into his coffers rather than those of an over taxed nation. Maybe he should give these companies time to consider their price increases instead?

KeithR, Heswall, Merseyside

I remember the windfall tax on my pension, as with all such knee jerk taxation wheezes it is Joe Public who ends up with the final bill. What the UK needs is a simple straightforward taxation system and an honest down to earth government. Sadly we have neither.

Graeme Pilkington, Warrington, UK