Lord O'Neill hails initiative for people to donate energy bill rebate to less fortunate

27 May 2022, 15:15 | Updated: 27 May 2022, 15:36

Cost of living crisis: James O'Brien speaks to Lord O'Neill

By Sam Sholli

Lord Jim O'Neill has hailed a Crowdfunder initiative for people to donate all or part of their £400 energy bill rebate to people who are less fortunate.

Lord O'Neill has branded the initiative as "really cool" while speaking to LBC's James O'Brien, after Rishi Sunak earlier this week announced his plans to give every household in Britain £400 off their energy bills as part of a cost of living support package.

Crowdfunder has stated: "We've got a very very big ask.

"Rishi Sunak has set out new cost of living crisis measures, giving financial support to all, funded by a windfall tax on huge profits from oil and gas giants.

"The rebate will not be means-tested - meaning that every household in the UK will receive £400 back towards their cost of living.

"For some, this rebate will be a very welcome income on the costs of living that are going through the roof, for others who are more financially secure, it’s a nice bonus. But for the millions who have been plunged deep into poverty it’s literally the difference between heating or eating.

"We call on you to consider donating all or part of your Energy Rebate to the charities that are supporting those who need it the most. Our vulnerable children, families and elderly in our communities - our neighbours, teachers, nurses and our loved-ones."

Lord O'Neill has described the initiative as being "really cool" and "really neat".

He also said: "But I think it's a really cool idea. And I'm sure for well-minded people who do feel as though they didn't need this, it's a great opportunity to help even more those that are in the greatest need - because we are living through where the challenges for the lowest income people are really remarkable.

"So I think it's a great initiative."

Earlier on in his exchange with James, in response to Rishi Sunak's introduction of the energy bill rebate, Lord O'Neil said: "Listen, I think it's got politics sort of written all over it really, both because of the circumstances and because of the remarkably complex flavour of the current Conservative administration.

READ MORE: Sunak urges rich to give £400 to charity as he defends giving second-home owners payout

"It sort of wants to please all. And from the general reaction this morning, I think it doesn't seem to have pleased its historic constituent base although it's caught the mood of the times where a problem happens and the Government is seen as a magic money tree I suppose."

James asked: "Are you suggesting that the abandonment of the opposition to the windfall tax from all of 10 days ago has nothing to do with number-crunching on the Chancellor's part and rather more to do with the scandals that have been dominating the news agenda all week?"

Lord O'Neill replied: "I'm mean I'm sure the timing of it is something that they thought might be helpful let's say.

"But I meant actually slightly more broadly. You know, this Chancellor, the way things are going is going to be remembered as the guy that just kept coming up with stuff that he really didn't want to do.

"[That's] partly because of the external shocks that happened but partly because of the peculiar position that his government is in power for and obviously with the so-called Red Wall seats especially."

READ MORE: 'Better late than never': Economist reacts to Rishi Sunak's cost of living support package

READ MORE: Irate caller fumes over millionaires getting £400 fuel grant

More James O'Brien

See more More James O'Brien

Exclusive
The Conservative Party Conference this year is more notable for who's not there than who is, both journalistically and possibly politically, says James O'Brien

After 14 years in power, Tories can't dodge responsibility for their mess, says James O'Brien

An LBC caller shared the shocking moment she discovered child sex abuse images on her ex-husband's computer

LBC caller shares harrowing moment she discovered child sex abuse images on ex-husband’s computer

Exclusive
'Messing with kids minds in a big way': Tony Blair calls for social media regulation as he admits 'we can't go on like this'

'Messing with kids' minds': Tony Blair calls for greater social media regulation, admitting: 'we can't go on like this'

Londoners to question the Mayor at annual State of London Debate with LBC

Londoners to question the Mayor at annual State of London Debate with LBC

Sacked borders watchdog David Neal said the Home Office is 'dysfunctional' and needs reform.

'It goes to the very top': Sacked border watchdog slams Home Office and calls for reform after Cleverly row

Exclusive
Shahd Waleed is trying to leave Rafah with her parents and enter Egypt

'They want us to experience pain': Young woman trapped in Rafah with her parents tells of terror as Israel invasion looms

Sir Keir Starmer has defended comments he made about Margaret Thatcher earlier this month.

Starmer defends Thatcher comments as he says he ‘completely disagrees’ with former prime minister’s politics

A caller to James O’Brien’s programme has shared footage of the extraordinary destruction done to his newly purchased property just outside of Durham.

Property investor's shock at 'unexplainable level of damage' he discovered after buying new home

Exclusive
James Cleverly replaced Suella Braverman as home secretary on Monday

'I've spent more time with James Cleverly this week than with Suella Braverman in the last year', Sadiq Khan tells LBC

James O'Brien discusses Suella Braverman's 'destructionist' leadership style with a caller

'She's a destructionist': James O'Brien caller claims Suella Braverman governs like 'a five-year-old'

James O'Brien

'She definitely has something on him': Caller and James O'Brien debate why the PM hasn't sacked Suella Braverman yet

'A complete reset of the top' is needed says caller.

'We're being let down': There is a 'complete disconnection' between parliamentary and local Conservatives says caller

James O'Brien

'It's essential that people are able to protest peacefully against war', says James O'Brien

James O'Brien

Rishi Sunak 'almost physically moves away' from Suella Braverman in House of Commons debate, says James O'Brien

James O'Brien

'Suella Braverman succeeded - she's caused hate', claims caller after Home Secretary criticises pro-Palestine marches

'A fish rots from the head': James O'Brien caller reacts to claims of misogyny in Downing Street during Covid Inquiry

'A fish rots from the head': James O'Brien caller reacts to claims of misogyny in Downing Street during Covid Inquiry

'Ludicrous, bogus, nonsense': James O'Brien is astounded by Boris Johnson 'laughing at Italy' during the pandemic

'Ludicrous, bogus, nonsense': James O'Brien is astounded by Boris Johnson 'laughing at Italy' during the pandemic

James O'Brien on Dagestan

'It's a hatred as old as religion itself': James O'Brien analyses escalating anti-Semitism after Muslim crowd storms Dagestan airport

Carol Vorderman shocked about UK Poverty

'One million children are living in destitution': Carol Vorderman struggles to comprehend stark wealth inequality in the UK

Wes Streeting on dentistry

Wes Streeting invites the government to steal Labour's policy to solve 'dickensian' NHS dentist crisis

James O'Brien

'I think they're the loneliest voters in Britain', James O'Brien claims after Tories' double by-election defeat

JOB and caller Andy

Biden's visit to Israel is to show that the US stands 'unequivocally' with Israel says James O'Brien caller

JOB and Usman

Israel's current response will only 'strengthen' Hamas by rearing Gazans who seek revenge warns this James O'Brien caller

JOB on deaths in conflict

James O'Brien unpacks the 'controversial' feeling of being 'equally devastated' by Palestinian and Israeli deaths

JOB on starmer speech

Keir Starmer is using 'working class as the opposite of having a sense of entitlement', notes James O'Brien

JOB on HS2 promises

James O'Brien criticises Rishi Sunak's watering down of 'illustrative' Network North projects funded by HS2 cut

Sadiq Khan and James O'Brien

Sadiq Khan declares there is 'no place for anti-Semitism' in London as kosher restaurant in Golders Green attacked

James O'Brien on the challenge HS2 scrappage poses to Labour.

‘How much can Rishi Sunak knock down before Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister?, asks James O’Brien

James O'Brien

Rishi Sunak is like an 'incontinent cat': James O'Brien slams Tories ahead of PM's Party Conference speech

JoB and Jeremy Hunt

Navy veteran deeply hurt by Jeremy Hunt's plans to clamp down on benefit claimants

James O'Brien on Tory tactics in the upcoming election.

Tories desperately seeking wedge issues is the 'only way' they will retain power in 2024, says James O'Brien

James and caller Mervin on knife crime

'I'd prefer you to go to jail than die': James O'Brien is left aghast by this caller's father's stance on knife possession