THE Martin Lewis Money Show viewers were left fuming over Ed Miliband’s “waffling” TV appearance last night.
Viewers branded the politician “a joke” and said “he has no idea what he’s doing” on social media platform X.com.
The Secretary of State for Energy joined Martin, 53, live via video link on Tuesday, March 17, to face questions submitted by the public about the soaring costs of heating oil and energy.
The programme focused on sharp swings in petrol, diesel and especially heating oil prices, after Labour announced £53million of support for struggling households.
Around 1.5million UK homes, many in rural areas and Northern Ireland, rely on heating oil and are not protected by the Ofgem price cap.
With prices hitting nearly 150p a litre, some families have seen bills soar overnight.
The CMA is now investigating claims that suppliers unfairly hiked prices, while ministers have launched emergency funding to help households refill their tanks.
However, Ed, 56, was left stuttering as he explained the funds were there to aid “vulnerable people” who could apply through their local authority for payment assistance.
When the politician was asked for more details on who exactly would be eligible for the help, he repeatedly batted away the question, claiming it would be a “matter for local authorities” to decide.
He told Martin on the ITV show that the government had thought about how to get the money out the door quickly, noting that previous schemes had taken nearly 200 days to get up and running.
Miliband insisted that local authorities tend to know their populations best and confirmed the government hasn’t specified that the cash is only for people on means-tested benefits.
The Energy Secretary said the government is leaving it to the discretion of local councils and that he believed they would look “sympathetically” at people in need.
But Martin Lewis wasn’t letting him off the hook, pressing the MP on what would happen if councils were too strict with the handouts.
Miliband said that the government would tell councils to be “less strict” and promised to judge the situation as it goes ahead based on feedback from individuals.
When Martin asked why the government was only helping the few rather than the many, the politician stuttered as he tried to explain why the support was not universal, simply stating he had been “very clear” and that they “cannot have unfair practice”.
Furious viewers quickly took to X, formerly Twitter, to blast the unclear answers and hit out at the Labour frontbencher.
One angry viewer said: “He’s just waffling. If you want it, you’ll have to pay through the nose for it.”
Another said: “Ed Miliband is a joke of an MP he has no idea what he is doing.”
A third added: “Go beg your council is the only answer apparently”.
