Orkney Constituency SNP candidate Robert Leslie has added his name to a campaign to end the energy rip-off that is hitting so many Orkney households keeping thousands of folk across the islands in fuel poverty.

Robert Leslie is now urging local folk to join him in backing Believe in Scotland’s ‘End Scotland’s Energy Bill Rip-Off’ campaign.

Robert Leslie said:

“When I was a first-time speaker at the SNP conference in 2015, I told party members that Orkney was leading the race for Scotland to become a net exporter of cheap, clean, renewable electricity. The rest of the country has now caught us up. However, the UK’s broken energy system means we have some of the world’s highest energy prices. On top of that, Scottish households are then also penalised with paying amongst the highest standing charges in the UK.

Click this link to sign the petition : End Scotland’s Energy Bill Rip-Off

“That’s unfair. Power over energy policy and pricing is strictly reserved to Westminster and before the 2024 General Election, the Labour Party promised to cut your household energy bills by £300 per year. Instead, average bills have soared by £187 per year – with another unacceptable rise added to your energy bills in January, 2026. This means domestic energy bills will now be around £500 per year higher than the UK Government promised – and higher still for places like Orkney, that have no access to cheaper mains gas.

“Scottish households also have to pay the highest standing charges in the UK. We pay more than people in London or Manchester, just to be allowed to connect to the grid. That means Scottish people are being massively overcharged for our own energy, whilst big energy firms have pocketed record profits.

“Energy policy is set by the UK Government in London and it penalises Scots simply because of where we live. Despite Scotland’s onshore wind powering much of the UK, folk in Scotland see very little benefit from our huge natural resources and pay higher energy bills.”

Believe in Scotland is calling on the UK Government, and its UK regulator ‘Ofgem’ to:

• End unfair extra standing charges for Scottish consumers.
• Deliver a fair, transparent energy pricing system that does not harm Scotland’s economy. 
• Provide a pricing benefit that recognises Scotland’s massive contribution to clean energy generation.
• Publish a plan, with committed dates to lower energy bills for Scottish domestic and business consumers. 
• Cancel all new energy price rises planned by the regulator in 2026.

Robert Leslie added:

“When you sign the petition, your message will automatically be sent to your MSP and MP urging them to support this campaign.

“Around 35% of Orkney households can’t afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. That means families with young children and pensioners are going cold so that big-energy conglomerates can pay billions to investors in dividends and bonuses to executives. That must end.

“Scotland is an energy rich nation and energy rich nations shouldn’t have people living in fuel poverty.

“I would encourage folk to sign the petition now by visiting  and filling in their details.”

Click this link to sign the petition : End Scotland’s Energy Bill Rip-Off