FORMER Prime Minister Sir John Major’s call for a windfall tax on the profits of the UK's big energy firms has been backed by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans.

The Tory backbencher is writing on the issue to Chancellor George Osborne.

Sir John said recent gas and electricity price rises of 10 per cent were ‘unacceptable’ and the government should claw back the cost of extra winter fuel payments through a one-off tax.

Mr Evans said: “I think that Sir John Major’s suggestion is eminently sensible.

“It would provide consumers with much needed relief when the proceeds of the tax were put back into the system and send a message to energy companies their profiteering is wholly unreasonable.

“Nobody should have to choose between heating their homes or feeding themselves.

“Many people in the Ribble Valley have received pay increases of 1 per cent or less in the last year so for them to be hit with a 10 per cent hike in fuel bills is totally unacceptable.”