An MP has been criticised for voting against a plan to freeze energy prices for 20 months.

Labour councillor Sharon Taylor, the leader of Stevenage Borough Council, has hit out at the town’s Conservative MP, Stephen McPartland, over his stance on energy bills. The motion to freeze energy prices was put forward by Labour after members of the ‘big six’ energy companies, such as EDF and British Gas, announced last month that energy price increases would go up by between 8-11% from

The vote in the House of Commons last week was defeated by 295 to 237, with a Government majority of 58.

All the Conservative MPs in Comet country voted against the motion, with North East Herts MP Oliver Heald described it as a “gimic”.

Cllr Taylor said: “Stephen McPartland would have had the opportunity to stand up for Stevenage people against the big six energy prices. I think that is very disappointing for Stevenage people who are really struggling with household budgets at the moment.”

Mr McPartland was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press, but a spokesman said the MP would be speaking to Cllr Taylor personally.