High fuel costs spell winter tragedy

BP has already announced stunning annual profits of £9 billion ($16.93bn). In the 10 seconds it took you to read the start of this article, BP would have made £2854 ($5369) profit.

But as heating costs soar, the end result for cold-climate pensioners is also nothing if not predictable: increased numbers of death.

This week the British government announced plans to help pensioners switch their energy providers to save money. “Why pay more?” asked a smiling UK Trade and Industry Minister Patricia Hewitt launching the advertising campaign.