A FIFE MP has raised the energy concerns of local businesses in the UK Parliament.

Neale Hanvey, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, blasted energy sector greed and described how the crisis is hitting small firms across the country in his speech.

As reported previously, the politician has been attempting to help several local business owners struggling with sharp rises in energy and other running costs but found precious few ways to reduce their burden.

In March, he organised a meeting after receiving multiple cries for help from firms across his constituency.

Designed to bring traders and retailers together, the event included several local business speakers along with Fife Council representatives.

Speaking in Parliament, he said: "The routes for small businesses to bulk purchase energy are nigh on impossible to navigate.

"Available options require significant time and resources which most owners battling to survive can ill afford. The whole system is a mess and, due to a lack of Tory government planning, the queue to connect new sustainable projects to the National Grid runs as long as 10 years into the future.

“Business owners need swift, meaningful help and right now this is not forthcoming from the UK Government, Scottish Government or the energy companies.

"During the cost-of-living debate I made a number of points about the state of the energy sector, and the Tory decisions that allow for unfettered greed and profiteering to go on at the expense of the people.”

One business affected is Kirkcaldy’s Ice Arena, where monthly bills were due to increase from £3000 to £35,000 per month.

The MP wrote to the energy corporations operating in Fife and off the Fife coast to secure sponsorship support for the iconic

venue.

“Companies profiting from our community did not provide one penny of help and, with recent news that London’s Canary Wharf office estate will soon benefit from clean energy from a Scottish windfarm, this is all the more galling," he added.

"Large corporations such as Shell, Exxon and BP, who are making eye-watering amounts, stand to receive energy discounts of up to 50 per cent while our small local businesses continue to go under.

“Scotland has power a-plenty, but our government has already sold ScotWind licences for £700 million, a tiny fraction of their £350 billion market worth.

"Replicating Westminster’s past mistakes over Scotland’s oil and gas revenues is unforgivable. Unless we set up our own public energy company to serve the best interests of our people, the vast profits will continue to be funnelled elsewhere at Scotland’s expense."