ONE in five households in the city could be plunged into fuel poverty this winter, according to a recent report.

According to figures from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, some 65,000 people in 27,000 homes - equivalent to 20 per cent of households in Brighton and Hove, will end up in fuel poverty as energy prices soar, up from 12 per cent in 2020.

Prime Minister Liz Truss is set to make a statement to Parliament outlining measures to help people cope with the rising cost of energy later today.

She is expected to announce that domestic energy bills will be frozen at around £2,500 as part of a £150 billion package.

That would still see average household bills increase for consumers, with the current price cap set at £1,971.

Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle called on the new Prime Minister to “get a grip” of the situation and said that action should have been taken months ago to help people with the cost of living.

He said: “Behind every one of these figures is a mum going hungry so her child can eat or a pensioner sat in a cold dark room because they can’t afford their bills.

“These are our neighbours and it will be happening on every street in Brighton this winter.

“Despite our new PM pledging to do nothing, she now seems to be suggesting she will freeze energy bills at roughly 200 per cent above 2021 prices.

“It is not just household bills she needs to get a grip of; without proper intervention into commercial energy prices, we will see inflation continue to rise, which will lower all our living standards.

“We need bold action and we needed it six months ago.”

Hove MP and shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said that the fuel poverty figures “genuinely terrifies me”.

He said: “There’s not a home in the entire city who isn’t feeling the steep rise in energy bills this month.”

A spokesman for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said the government needs to have “the right support get through to the right people”.

He said: “The government’s plans focus on offering welcome universal support through a prize freeze, but we also need additional help for the millions of households in fuel poverty who are already struggling.”

Liz Truss is expected to address MPs at around 11.30am to announce her plans to tackle the energy crisis.