Burnham is 'looking at' axing £108 gas standing charges but refuses to give details amid fears households could pay more

Andy Burnham told PMQs he has asked Chancellor John Healey and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to report back 'at the earliest opportunity', but Downing Street refused to set a timetable. The likeliest fix shifts the cost onto the gas unit rate, which would hit heavy users hardest. Nesta reckons a typical household would save only about £27 a year. Bills are forecast to jump by £276 in January.

Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of 'dithering' for two-and-a-half years over the Jackdaw gas field.

Nesta says 86 per cent of the poorest households would gain, against 24 per cent of the wealthiest.

Martin Lewis has argued that standing charges punish low users such as elderly people living alone.