Rebel MP Frank Field wishes to mobilise backbench support in encouraging the government to help poor customers.
A backbench Labour MP has vowed to fight the government "right to the line" in order to secure financial assistance for households struggling to pay their energy bills.
Frank Field, who led the Commons rebellion against the scrapping of the 10p tax band last year, said that he believes that a "package" of energy reforms should now be implemented by ministers. A total of 70 Labour MPs have also signed a petition calling on gas and electricity firms to pay a new windfall tax - with revenue then being used to help poor customers.
The backbench revolt comes in the wake of the big new price rises which have been announced by four of the "big six" UK energy providers recently. British Gas, the largest energy supplier in the UK, has even put up its general gas tariffs by 35 percent.
Speaking on Channel 4 News yesterday, Mr Field commented: "The real danger for the government is that, with the 10p rebellion, in which you kindly said I led, the leading was merely putting on to the circuit an email and the response was automatic and overwhelming by Labour MPs.
"Now the lesson the government ought to draw from that, is that when it comes to protecting the poorest and most vulnerable in our community, while the government obviously shares backbenchers' concerns about this, they do now have a group of backbenchers who are prepared to take the government right to the line to ensure that a package is delivered."
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