TORY leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak has ruled out Labour’s proposal for freezing the energy price cap if he becomes prime minister.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday that his party had a “fully costed plan” for freezing the cap on energy bills at £1,971 a year, instead of allowing it to rise again in October.

The cap is due to rise to around £3,582 at that point and could soar to £4,266 in January 2023.

In October 2021, the average annual energy bill was £1,400.

Sir Keir said that under Labour’s plans, people would “not pay a penny” more for their energy this winter.

The plan would be paid for in part by an extension of the windfall levy on the profits of oil and gas companies.

But Mr Sunak argued: “I don’t think that’s the right approach.”

He instead repeated his commitment to target support at the poorest households and pensioners.

Mr Sunak’s leadership rival, Liz Truss, once again would not be drawn on how she would help households this winter other than repeating her commitment to tax cuts.

The Foreign Secretary said that she would not support anything resembling a “sticking plaster” that would be only a short-term fix.

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi also denounced Labour’s plans today, saying that it would reward “people like me who are at the wealthier end of the spectrum.”

It comes as a new poll this week by Opinium shows that 86 per cent of the public and 85 per cent of current Tory voters support Labour’s proposals.

Labour shadow secretary for climate change and net zero Ed Miliband blasted Mr Sunak’s response.

He said: “Rishi Sunak has ruled out implementing a crucial measure in dealing with a national emergency — freezing the energy price cap — which would immediately deal with rising energy bills and a cost-of-living crisis.

“This is a measure backed by a huge majority of the British public, but is simply being ignored by Tory leadership candidates who are far more focused on playing politics.

“Families are worried about how they will pay their bills, and instead of fixing the real issues the Conservatives continue their infighting, offering no substantive ideas to help the British public meet the challenges they face.

“Labour’s fully-funded plan would fix the problems immediately and for the future.

“It would mean people not paying a penny more on their energy bills this winter, saving the typical household £1,000, as well as providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy.”