27 January 2023 , 22:31
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This week an inquest heard 87-year-old Barbara Bolton died of hypothermia because she could not afford to heat her home.
That tragedy should weigh on the conscience of every major oil and gas executive.
The five biggest energy firms - BP, Shell, TotalEnergies, Chevron and ExxonMobil - are shortly expected to reveal combined annual profits of around £160billion.
Their colossal windfall is thanks to a surge in prices after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
But where these companies saw only dollar signs, the rest of us saw the misery of ever rising bills. Mrs Bolton’s death was not isolated.
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Hundreds of deaths because of the cold were recorded in the three weeks over Christmas (Getty Images)There were 7,000 excess deaths in the three weeks over Christmas - many caused by the cold. This figure is expected to rise still higher because of the recent cold snap.
Bosses of the oil giants could have acted responsibly by forsaking their lust for ever bigger profits and ever larger bonuses.
In the end the oil industry showed itself for what it is: one gripped by cold-hearted greed.
Hold the line
There is not much point in building a railway line without a station at the end.
But that is what could happen with the multi-billion pound HS2.
The project is already behind schedule and over budget. There are now concerns that the rising costs could delay plans for the line to end at London’s Euston station.
Such a move would be another blow to the scheme after the decision two years’ ago to axe the leg from Birmingham to Leeds.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (PA)Jeremy Hunt yesterday said it was “inconceivable” the line would not run to Euston.
Let’s hope the Chancellor is right. Having spent so much it would be a farce if passengers are unable to reach their destination.
Screen queen
From Ice Cold in Alex to Albert Square, Sylvia Syms graced our screens for more than six decades.
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Her roles included playing the Queen Mother - a fitting part for acting royalty.