THE MSP for Kilmacolm has branded soaring energy firm profits at a time of a cost of living crisis as 'a national disgrace'.

The SNP's Natalie Don says it is wrong that families are struggling with sky high bills yet energy companies continue to rake in record amounts.

Shell is due to announce second-quarter profits of $5.6 billion, whilst British Gas is expected to report that profits have reached an all-time high of £969 million for the first half of the year.

This comes after the UK Government removed both the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme at the end of June.

Ms Don, MSP for Renfrewshire North & West, said: “While other governments act to protect their citizens, the UK Government is allowing energy companies to make obscene profits on the back of suffering households who are facing historically high prices on their energy bills.

"As usual energy companies are quick to raise prices when the wholesale energy price rises but are slow to reduce prices when the wholesale energy price falls.

"The UK energy market is broken and this winter bills will stay at around 90 per cent higher compared to 2021 prices.

“It is a disgrace that an energy rich nation like Scotland sees its resources exploited for the greed of energy companies while families struggle to pay their energy bills."