A FORMER Prime Minister, no less, this week waded into the increasing consternation surrounding energy price hikes by the 'Big Six'.

John Major reckons it's about time that we placed a windfall tax on the profits of these major corporations.

Somewhat wrong-footed, Prime Minister David Cameron has described the proposals as "interesting".

Major's assertion is that these, most recent price increases, will force many people across the UK to choose between keeping warm and eating.

Doubtless the energy firms were still reeling from Ed Miliband's promise to impose a price freeze should he get the keys to No 10, when we received the news of Scottish Power's guilt in mis-selling energy plans.

There is therefore little cold comfort in reading the profit figures for Scottish Power's parent company Iberdrola. The whopping £2.4 billion profit it recorded last year places the whole discussion in context.

Meanwhile, as well as being told to put on more jumpers, we are all being told that we can switch.

What's the point in switching when the Big Six power firm form little more than a cartel. This mutual interest, keeps prices high, bills illegible and rates and tariffs utterly confusing.

The only people who benefit from switching suppliers are the people who run switching websites.

It does sound to me rather like the net is closing on this broken market. They have failed to place integrity above profit and they have not put customers first.

Nothing profits a company more than true understanding and trust. It's time the energy companies understood - that we don't trust them.

WHAT fantastic news that Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill will again return to the roles which made them so famous, as Jack and Victor.

The two had a huge fallout in 2007 which has been nicely papered-over and they are best pals again.

I, and countless others, are delighted.

The entire cast including Winston, Tam, Navid, Boaby and Isa will be appearing in front of our very eyes at Glasgow's new Hydro in autumn next year.

The comedy gold that will surely follow will produce a demand for tickets greater than the Commonwealth Games as we grab the chance to become re- acquainted with a show that's one of our most favourite national treasures.

If Ford and Greg are up for many more adventures, I for one am still game.

MUCH has been said about the removal of the spare room subsidy, or "bedroom tax" as it has now become known.

For those in receipt of benefit, who have an additional, unused room in their home, benefits are substantially reduced, unless they move to a smaller home - but few are available.

The recent publication of the Scottish Housing Regulator highlights an alarming increase in rent arrears since the introduction of this flawed policy.

Their report, The Early Impact of Welfare Reform, shows that in the three months after the policy was introduced, the level of rent arrears rose by £800,000 to £63m.

The contrast is made all the more stark by the fact that rent arrears had been in decline in the previous two years.

For so many families, the bedroom tax adds to the pressures of increased energy charges and growing hopelessness.

Reducing the top rate of income tax for the rich does nothing to help the many who are poor, or being tipped into poverty by this policy.

Other reports from the Organisation for Economic Development reflect the increasing gap between rich and poor, which has grown faster in the UK than in any other country in the developed world.

Those responsible should be greatly ashamed.

We should judge our civility by the measures with which we treat our poorest, our most vulnerable. We are all entitled to at least that.