FOR years British consumers have been paying more for their domestic energy than others on the continent such as the French.

We have allowed state owned companies such as EDF into the UK to use our consumers to make profits which then go into subsidising heavily regulated operations in other European markets.

News that the French government has allowed its domestic electricity suppliers to charge more should be welcomed in Britain. But this move does not go nearly far enough. The EU needs to force the French and others to open their markets to new energy suppliers.

As long as wholesale oil and gas prices are high, energy prices will remain high, but at least we can ensure that British citizens are not subsidising cheap energy elsewhere. Real choice and healthy competition will help hard working families weather this downturn.

SYED KAMALL MEP (LONDON) Via email