Labour are revolting.....Nothing new then except actually they are just more revolting.

Russell, Aberdeen, Scotland

The government rake in tax via energy even though they do nothing for it... where has all that money gone, how come an alternative has not come along? Because nothing has been invested in finding an alternative, they make to much money with the tax on the black gold!

Dependence is what they want!

Andrew, Durham, England

When are you in GB going to realize that you cannot have it all ways. You want the NHS, you want Social benefits, you want family allowances..........yet you want to tax to death the businesses who employ the people who PAY THE TAXES.

Take back the billions that you give the EU
Jill

Jill, New York,

The British Worker has been subsidising millions of unproductive low skilled, foreign nationals for the last decade, add to this the wealth stolen by the banks by devaluing our currency thanks to their never ending spending of freshly printed new money.

Chris, Ely, England

We don't want a windfall tax, we need the prices capped and the increases to be far less than the one's they are using now, try 5% instead of 25% would be farer and better i think for the ecomony, as it would mean more money in people's pockets.

Nicola Clubb, Bournemouth,

The usual Socialist punitive approach. What else can we expect from this bankrupt government? -Note please though that this is not Brown's wish but rather Labour MPs. Be gone!

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

Energy prices rose due to resource or supply capacity shortages, the energy companies attempted to add infrastructure which was stalled in planning so the price hikes became unstoppable. And the Government spin energy companies as bad guys? If we impose a tax and stop investment what happens then?

Mark, Lincoln, UK

Diesel is cheaper to produce than petrol and in most European countries is sold cheaper at the pumps. The oil companies in the UK appear to be the cause of the immoral extra cost of diesel at the pumps which leads to higher delivery charges for food and their excess profits.

Fred Coyne, Liverpool, UK

Gas prices are tied to the price of oil. Oil goes up wholesale and then retail gas goes up. Oil prices fall, wholesale price of gas falls, retail price stays the same; increased profits for the gas company. Yes I know about hedged prices, spot markets, etc.

Anaximenes Bedrosian, Ravello, Italy

Labour aren't going to get re-elected, thats fact. Why don't they do the rigt thing and grab the economy by the scruff of the neck and sort it out instead of being so appeasing.

Sunny, Coventry,

A large percentage of the profits the energy companies are making comes directly from the wind power subsidies the government is paying them.
‘Q’: - is this reducing the amount of fossil fuel our power stations are burning?
‘A’: - not one iota.

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

It is now crystal clear that the ONLY option the Labour Party sees as a weapon against ANY problem is TAX and SPEND.

This is a government bereft of any orignial ideas or initiative.

The more you tax the more you push the taxed into (legal and illegal) evasion - these companies will relocate.

Mark R, Rugby,

This is reminiscent of the raid Brown made on company pension funds, with the result that most of the private sector is facing a harsh retirement whilst he and his cronies are sitting pretty. He was warned but, it looked good at the time!!!
10 years of tax and squander. Why won't he ever listen!

Lou, London, UK

How about the windfall on the NuLab for mismanagment of tax payers monies, surely that would allow the whole country to prosper and move forward. Oops forgot NuLab is already in financial problem, why does that not surprise anyone. We rely on them to sort the country out, what a joke!!

YT, London, UK

If the energy companies are due a windfall tax, then the british taxpayer should be entitled to a tax windfall from the government, starting with the £5bn stolen by Gordon the Thief from our pensions. At least energy companies can explain where there revenues have gone, where's all our taxes gone???

Graham Wassell, Dumfries, UK

Something needs to be done. The market isn’t working. One company puts its price up then the rest follow, behaving like a cartel. Brown just stands there paralysed like a rabbit caught in a cars headlamps. We need a Government for the people, not one that caters just for big business.

Dave Bridge, Southport, UK

Follow the French example and cap price increases. Remove the iniquitous 5% VAT levy on domestic fuel.
That's that sorted then.

david Glen, Glasgow, Scotland

The government has already had a windfall tax on the rising prices of fuel. I notice that most building companies are posting big falls in profits. Are thes idiots in the government going to give them a subsidy?

Colin Davison, Leeds, UK

High taxes is one of the reasons why this country is in a mess. Labour have a lot to answer for over their punative tax policy. Again, again and again every time they get in power they destroy the country with this singlular descriminate tax policy

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

How about some lateral thinking for a change? Do as the French have and limit the % the power companies can increase their prices...I think it in the region of a 5% increase. I know it's more than inflation but at least it's not as bad as the present UK's hyper increases.

cass, Alicante, Spain

"Is this windfall tax going to make my gas bill cheaper? - dave, london, uk"

Well yes, that's the whole idea! Didn't you read the article?

Owen, London, UK

Why does the government not take a 40% stake in these energy companies, then when they have large profits the country will benefit, or is that too simplistic.

Sid Jacques, Durham,

What have our foreigned owned utilities companies got to lose, they will just pass on the burden to the customer, stupid idea.

geoffthereff, Bolton, UK

Brown's Britain. So typical, stupid and short sighted. The companies targeted make their money mainly outside the UK, it is based on international pricing, they take all the risk of hostile government aka BP/TNK. They will simply relocate offshore and we can kiss goodbye to all tax revenues.

John, Lincoln,

I hope they also help students with this. Many of us are very strap for cash, where the course demands all our time not allowing us to work. If they don't, you may lots of students in engineering and other high demand courses not able to complete them.

Andy, Guildford, UK

We need the protection of a strong regulator, not more tax! Ofgem looks like a toothless old hag. If the French Government can impose a 2% increase on EDF why can't we?? If the law wont allow it, change the law! The MD of Centrica, salary £1,033,000 said "people should wear 2 jumpers to keep warm".

Graham, St. Albans, uk

How about Government cutting its cloth. Taxes are at an all time high with much wasted.

Cut taxes by cutting targets and consultants and damn the green taxes which do nothing except make PC tree huggers (A minority with undue influence due to their militantism) happy.

Richard, London,

How about breaking up the Big Six energy cartel instead?

Paul, Coventry,

A company needs to know the tax regime it's working within in order to operate effectively. If taxation becomes arbitrary, and profits are raided at random by the government, then this becomes impossible and companies will simply go elsewhere. Can we afford to lose companies like Shell and BP?

Martin, Newmarket, Suffolk

And how exactly would a "windfall tax" benifit the people who are struggling to pay the bills?
Instead of this ludicrous idea, the government should cap the amount utility companies can raise their prices in a given year. This would benifit the consumer!

Pete, St Albans, England

Tax them. The profits were made at our expense. Scaremongering that they will leave the country is only a means of maintaining ridiculous profits and bonuses. Invest in new power which we can sell before we again have to buy it from other countries.

Matt Parfitt, Bath, UK

If the Government wants to reduce households energy costs, it could waive the 5% VAT it currently levies.

John, London , UK

Could someone discover how is it that those who set the price of fuel at the pumps all use a similar calculator that: - when they input the price they have to pay for a litre of fuel, plus all the taxes, plus their profit always produces an answer to the nearest 0.9p?

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

You are fortunate to have a rented flat A. Harris. Hold on to it, They are becoming gold dust due to the increased costs being heaped on a landlord. My good friend landlord has got rid of all his. Not worth all the bother he says. Can get more return on his money in a building society.

albert hall, hove, brighton

You are fortunate to have a rented flat A. Harris. Hold on to it, They are becoming gold dust due to the increased costs being heaped on a landlord. My good friend landlord has got rid of all his. Not worth all the bother he says. Can get more return on his money in a building society.

albert hall, hove, brighton

All taxes ultimately fall on the productive people of the country, either while they are working or after they have retired. There is no magic pot of money just waiting to be taxed.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

I'm not sure anyone really understands economics most people just have opinions about economics- it's hardly a science. one thing is for sure Maggie hadn't a clue about economicsor much else come to think of it

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

I think putting a price on the "free" carbon permits power generation companies have received is perfectly reasonable - what is not is a blanket windfall tax on all energy companies - it will just drive a load of taxpayers offshore never to be seen again

Richard, Newton Abbot,

Sad but true, Bolshie governance is the first refuge of Labour whenever the going gets tough. It never ceases to amaze that allegedly knowledgeable members of HM government and so many MPs are so ignorant of the lessons learnt from so many past efforts to meddle with the economy.

Dennis Eagan, Colorado Springs, US

These profts go into our pension funds. If the loony left steal it then they are robbing average people of their security in old age. It's about time this fact was highlighted a bit more.

If you want to level a windfall tax do it on something really obscene - like footballers' wages.

Mike, Edinburgh, UK

Lets cut through the nonsense here. It's neither green nor popularist. It's all about tax. Anything to justify tax. The bigger the tax burden the better. Can't fund a new policy? Just unveil a raft of new taxes.

It's got to stop.

Admit defeat and reign in the spending instead.

Paul, London,

This is trades union economics of the 1970's. As Kevin has suggested, can't these people be given a lesson on elementary economics to include return on capital. Shell already has half a foot in The Hague and BP the USA. It won't take much to push them over the edge

Roland, Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Just to add that I first heard this being raised again a couple of months ago by Potty Toynbee of The Guardian. This is the sort of intellect driving this proposal. Toynbee and her like really ought to be taught some basic economics.

Roland, Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Rather than offering hand-outs to 'poorer families' the cost of fuel across the board should be reduced so everyone benefits. Otherwise those of us who do not fit into 'poor' category continue to suffer and have to struggle without any assistance at all.

Ruth, Redhill,

I'm paying £180PM to Southern Electric for Gas/Electric and it's summer.
I'm scared to death of winter. There is absolutely no way I can pay any more than that. It's simply not possible.
I'm looking at buying a Wood burning stove and disconnecting the central heating. To hell with global warming!

Andy, Cheshire, England

More of the economics of the past.Back to Tax and spend and
boom and bust do they learn nothing.
I know they are told this tax would be popular but I bet If you asked about the choice of tax or power cuts the tax would get the thumbsdown.
Unfortunately with GB any stupid act is possible!

roger, bridport,

Since when has any Zanu-Labour MP been bothered about the electorate??

ronnie, bucks, UK

Brown is no Labourite - he is hard core New Labour and has more in kind with his arch enemy Tony Blair, than he wishes to admit !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is a lover of big business and the US and one never hears him say Socialism either. Seems Labour MP's have no real idea who their leader is !!!!!!!!

ian payne, WALSALL,

The way to deal with this problem is not to impose a windfall tax on the energy companies but to make them contribute to a national energy technologies venture fund that will provide the risk equity capital to support clean tech start-ups.the banks and other financial institutions won't .

Scamp, Aberdeenshire,

The thing is the gas & oil & power industry needed to be nationalised all along, big business emplyed as a support.
The real market investment by big business should have been encouraged in new technologies & emerging future makets.
You cannot compete on a system thats just produces paper bills

BJ, swale, uk

Its a repeat of 79 over again, except we have no Thatcher or North Sea oil to save us this time. I'd be interested to know what the cost of gas is minus the tax before the energy companies get it.

roger Kingston, york,

This does not make the cost of fuel at home cheaper, it just means consumers still pay a high price and the government just rakes in even more tax. Oh well nothing new there then.

Ray, Clacton ,

The core reason power prices have ran away this year is the environmental restrictions placed on coal plant (particularly those in effect from 1st Jan). Vast amounts of non-gas reliant plant are now effectively unavailable.
Coal costs little, green costs lots - the UK public can't have it both ways

Andy, Aberfoyle,

Tax the rich. 75% top rate on incomes over £125,00 a year will raise £6.5 billions. Enough for a doubling of the winter fuel allowance for oaps.

Mick, Liverpool, uk

This won't save GB but the consequences will be profound. The rich will move offshore. Why will companies invest in the UK if they are penalised for producing profits? We need these profits to invest in our crumbling infastructure otherwise we have blackouts in 11 years time & MP's will ask why? .

Rupert, London, UK

Yet again this proves that Gordon Brown is seeing his last days as Prime Minister - Every day we are told lies and every day contradiction - Obviously we have a government which does not give its people any confidence, it is one desaster after an other - GORDON TIME TO GO...... Catherine Williams-

Catherine Williams, Petersfield, U.K.

They'll just squander the money like they've always done - and drive business away

Phil, Preston,

Well said Graham ! We don't WANT a "windfall tax" on energy companies. It would be OUR money that the energy companies had, going straight to the government as ANOTHER STEALTH TAX. This Labour backbench "demand" is obviously contrived ! "I didn't want to do it - my backbenchers made me " - Hah !

Trevor, Ipswich, UK

It's consumers that are paying more so why does the government rake in another tax? Muppets all of them.

James, Blackpool,

"But a bit of spurious populism might yet get them re-elected, and then our troubles will really start."
Steve, London, UK

Re-elected ? Hah ! More chance of finding Elvis on the moon !
This lot will not get a sniff of office (or "power" as they revealingly refer to it) for at least 2 decades

Trevor, Ipswich, UK

The Energy Companies really enjoy increased energy costs as it enables them to make increases beyond the actual level thus increasing the profit margin which they plead is for future investment.

This will undoubtedly cause serious unrest.

Norman West, Truro, UK

Disgusting behaviour. We're all "hard up" now that Brown's taken & spent every penny.

Anyway back to the topic....

There's an energy regulator, paid for by the taxpayer.

If energy prices are too high, regulate them and reduce the prices FOR ALL. If they're not then leave them alone.

Graeme Pirie, Nuneaton,

Energy companies making huge investments in plant etc. need to be able to make long term financial plans, free of arbitrary tax bids by MPs seemingly incapable of prudent money management. If they can't trust, why invest?

Bernie, Bournemouth, UK

To Mike, Leeds

It's "one fell swoop" NOT "one foul swoop".

Read your Shakespeare!

Jonathan, Oxfordshire, England

Is this windfall tax going to make my gas bill cheaper? It's just more spin from from a useless Government on their way out.

dave, london, uk

It's interesting watching Labour policy retreat into the 1970s. it tends to confirm that 'NuLabour' was only ever a light wash over some very old Labour policies, principles and attitudes.

The old Labour Party is reasserting itself and retreating into General Committee pleasing prejudices.

Mark, Berkhamsted,

But Labour LOVES tax! How will it get a much needed fix if it can't find another publically maligned target for excessive taxation?

It might be forced to cut spending... Nah, perish the thought. No-one in the Labour Party would ever think of that one.

Paul, London,

Impose a 'windfall tax'? Surely this has already happened in the form of additional tax revenue from the rise in oil company profits? Or, is it simply that these political airheads are demanding a 'punitive tax' on oil companies?

m collins, leeds,

Mr Brown has spent the summer working on a package of help for poorer families to cope with rising housing costs?

Mr Brown has spent the last 10 years helping to increase housing costs in order to benefit a wealthy minority.

How about forcing my landlord to insulate my rented flat?

A Harris, Kettering, UK

How long does the government think the likes of BP and other energy companies with international operations are going to remain HQd in the UK if this sort of threat hangs over them? Windfall tax them this year and they will be gone forever. Bermuda et al will welcome them with open arms.

Paul, Singapore,

Earth to the labour Party... you cannot tax your way out of a poorly performing economy. Oil company "profits" are actually lower than your average computer software company's... someone who knows how to read a balance sheet please talk some sense into these MPs... Amazing the level of ignorance.

Kevin, California, US

Right out of "Atlas Shrugged." Unbelievable how prescient Ayn Rand was. The People's State of England, eh, comrade?

How the moochers and looters love taking away the hard-won profits of the producing class (aka the employers of the masses)...

Why should any company continue to produce??

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

The original "Windfall Tax" was imposed by M Thatcher after the Govt forced the banks to raise interest rates. The resulting "Windfall" profit was taxed.

That WAS a windfall tax, this is opportunist theft!

But what else do we expect from this bunch of economic illiterates?

Pedro, Stratford,

Every time UK plc makes "excessive" profits should we tax them? Not much incentive to be profitable then is there, or invest in new UK ventures or UK infrastructure. Biggest benefactor of high oil prices has been No10, perhaps first we could have our money back please?

manav, London, UK

How ironic that - certainly as far as petrol is concerned - the greatest beneficiary of the recent large increase in the price of oil is the government in the form of the Treasury. Yet what benefit have we seen? Now thay are proposing a windfall tax. What benefit will we see? You can guess.

John, Bangkok, Thailand

Mike from Leeds is missing the point, the extra tax is a Labour ideal not Scottish.

If the energy companies are making excessive profits this is profiteering and should be stopped by forcing a fixed price on the sector. This would help the people paying the bills instead of the government.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

Britisher pals, you're looking at a world of hurt. Eighteen-month recession going on five years; and that's optimistic. Assume Conservatives take over in early 2010. They will claim that the economy is in far worse shape than Labour let on, so harsh medicine is the only solution.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

It would appear that none of the luminaries have acknowleged that the underlying, festering issue, is ,that England Inc choose to go for ' Services as opposed to value added' and right now it appears to be a poor choice.

wpo, warsaw, ny

Taxing profits is just dumb, the cost of the tax will simply be passed down to the consumer, negating any govt plan. How about the Parliment look to cut taxes on petrol and income things that have a more immediate impact on the people. Say what you want about BUsh but even he isn't this bad.

Mike, Washington, DC, USA

TaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxtaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTax et al this man and his cabinet are unreal. How to destroy the British nation in one foul swoop............... but then hes a scotsman isnt he hell bent on destroying what is essentially English. Oh for Cromwellian values.

Mike, Leeds, Uk

It's so that the Government can give
handouts to the grateful taxpayers .....translation....votes.

chrissie, London,

Energy companies were given free CO2 permits but allowed to charge the user for these. A windfall tax would see them maintain their current profits by increasing prices.
The Treasury and the energy companies would win - and the consumer would end up worse off. But who cares about the consumer?

Bernard, Edinburgh, Scotland

All Labour can see is a pot of apparently "free" money. No shame about the billions they have extorted and wasted, and certainly no understanding of what profit and investment actually means.

But a bit of spurious populism might yet get them re-elected, and then our troubles will really start.

Steve, London, UK

And what about the year after? Are they proposing to do this every year? We will have no energy industry at all if we go down that route. Better to increase pensions for the elderly and sick by £500/year minimum. Cost - around £5bn. Every year. If not means tested.

Colin, shrewsbury,

This is a retrograde and short sighted tax. Remember that energy companies go a long time earning poor returns or losses and then make it back in a short space of time when the sector peaks. If these peaks are taxed the incentive to explore will vanish and then oil really will get expensive...

Bernard Harper, Sydney, Australia

how is increasing tax on a heavily taxed industry going to help pay fuel bills? am i missing something here?

Chris Smith, Surrey, UK