South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has said local Conservative MPs David Mundell, Alister Jack and John Lamont should be ashamed, after failing to vote for Labour’s call for a windfall tax on energy giants to help people deal with the cost-of-living crisis.

Last week in the House of Commons, Labour forced a vote on its amendment on a windfall tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies, a move designed to bring down the cost of soaring energy bills.

The motion expressed regret at the omission of the policy from the government’s priorities for the next parliamentary session.

In the event, the government won the vote by 310 to 248, a majority of 62. The division list suggest not a single Conservative MP backed the policy.

Colin Smyth said: “At the local elections, the voice of the people in the south of Scotland was clear – action is needed now on the cost-of-living crisis.

“South Scotland’s Tory MPs should be ashamed that they didn’t vote for Labour’s amendment.

“Thousands of Scots are being forced to choose between eating and heating – with parents tragically skipping meals to make sure their kids are fed.

“This is completely unacceptable – but the Tories are refusing to take the action needed to tackle this crisis.

“While thousands of Scots are bearing the brunt of soaring energy bills, oil and gas giants are posting record profits and raking in tens of thousands of pounds in profit a minute.

“The Scottish Tories should have backed plans for a one-off windfall tax on the oil and gas giants to help struggling families.

“It’s time for Tory MPs to pick a side – big oil giants or the people of Scotland.”