Green Party leader Zack Polanski has pledged £8.4bn to freeze UK energy bills beyond the current price cap, funded by equalising capital gains tax with income tax. The proposal comes as the energy price cap is set to rise to £1,827 for July-September, up from £1,641, following Middle East tensions that have driven gas prices higher.

The Greens would guarantee bills won't rise beyond the April-June cap, arguing the alternative would trigger a 'doom loop' of rising interest rates, mortgage costs and inflation. Polanski criticised GDP as a measure of national wellbeing and said the party would prioritise mental health, public services and community cohesion over economic growth targets.

Polanski also called for abandoning current fiscal rules in favor of 'fiscal referees' - expert panels to judge debt sustainability - and proposed rent controls across England. He argued the current framework is 'hypersensitive to market movements' and creates policy uncertainty. The party's policies have gained traction with 16% poll support and a recent by-election victory, positioning the Greens as a growing political force.