Rossendale MP Jake Berry appeared on ITV’s Peston to discuss cost of living crisis

The newly appointed Tory Party Chair, who is MP for Rossendale and Darwen, appeared on ITV’s Peston to discuss how Liz Truss and the Conservatives plan to bring economic growth to the country.

On the show he supported the proposed return of fracking and explained why a windfall tax, one-off tax imposed by a government on a company, on energy companies isn’t the answer to our cost of living problems, in his party's opinion.

Jake Berry (Image: Newsquest archive)

Speaking to the show’s host, Robert Peston, Mr Berry said: “Boris was a fine conservative but I think Liz is going to take a different approach.

“It’s clearly going to be a government that prioritises growth, tax cuts and putting money back into the pockets of ordinary working families.”

Peston questioned Mr Berry about why the Prime Minister is “dead set against a windfall tax” despite energy companies making  “an extraordinary amount of money from high energy prices”.

Mr Berry said a one-off tax "will not promote economic growth in the country for the long term".

He said: “The figures you are referring to are their global profits instead of the profits they are making in the UK.

• READ MORE: Jake Berry appointed Minister without Portfolio as Pendle MP booted out of Cabinet

“We are asking those companies to invest those profits in creating new forms of energy supply, such as new wind farms and gas fields in the North Sea.  

“A windfall tax would stop that investment.

“As a government we do not believe putting up taxes is a good way of encouraging growth. We cannot tax our way out of the economic situation we find ourselves in.

“We have to grow our way out of it. I think the British public understand this and will back our plans.”

As expected, Ms Truss also ended England’s ban on fracking – the process of extracting shale gas by fracturing rocks with high-pressure water.

It was halted in 2019 until "compelling new evidence" emerged that it was safe to do.

Mr Berry said he thinks fracking, which has taken place in Lancashire, is a good thing.

He said: “The prime minister has been absolutely clear that we should explore fracking where there is community consent to do so.

“I’ve always been clear that I think fracking is a good thing but it does require community consent. This will only come forward when it is proven as a safe technology which I think it is.”

A Government survey in Autumn 2021 found 45 per cent of people oppose fracking with just 17 per cent in support, with a further 30 per cent on the fence.

Today (September 8) Liz Truss set out her plans to help households and businesses cope with rising energy costs.

The Prime Minister’s two-year plan will save the average household around £1,000 from October and protect billpayers from further expected rises over the coming months, she said.

For businesses and other non-domestic users such as schools and hospitals, which have not been covered by the existing price cap, a yet to be finalised six-month scheme will offer equivalent support.

After that there will be ongoing support for the most vulnerable industries, with a review in three months’ time to decide where the help should be targeted.

The plan will see the Government limit the price suppliers can charge customers for units of gas, replacing the existing price cap set by regulator Ofgem.

Using tens of billions of extra borrowing, the Government will provide energy suppliers with the difference between the new, lower price and what they would charge were this not in place.

As expected, Ms Truss also ended England’s ban on fracking.

This could see domestic shale gas production begin in as little as six months, but will face heavy criticism from opponents who have long warned that fracking can cause earthquakes, water contamination, noise and traffic pollution.

She told MPs that fracking would only go ahead in areas where there was local support for it.

You can watch previous episodes of Peston on the ITV Hub.