SOCIAL tariff plans to help vulnerable people with their energy bills have been quietly shelved by the government in a “slap in the face” to households.

In January last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated government promises first made in 2022 that it would consider a lower energy tariff for struggling households.

Then energy secretary Grant Shapps told MPs in April that a social tariff “could be very helpful” and that the government was looking into it.