West Dunbartonshire's MP has slammd the UK Government for their handling of the energy sector that allowed a Clydebank firm to go bust.

Martin Docherty-Hughes said the government was negligent by letting Together Energy collapse on Tuesday. It was the 29th energy firm to shut in the past year, this time with a cost to 350 staff and 176,000 customers.

But in the House of Commons exchange, the government's minister derided the question and refused to take "lectures" from the MP.

Mr Docherty-Hughes asked: "Two years ago, Together Energy was providing 350 jobs in my constituency, leading on innovation for small and medium-sized utility companies. Yesterday, it went bust.

"While his Prime Minister and his Chancellor are missing in action doing other stuff, can the minister tell me what his government and Ofgem are doing to support small and medium-sized utility companies deliver zero emissions and deliver jobs in my constituency?"

Alok Sharma MP, cabinet office minister and COP26 president, replied: "I am not going to take any lectures from the honourable gentleman.

"He knows very well that the government are working very closely with the sector. He knows that we have put in place a price cap, and he knows that, when it comes to jobs, this government are investing, and we want to see two million green jobs created over the coming decades."

Mr Docherty-Hughes said he had spoken to senior management at Together Energy and been assured everything possible was being done to help staff find new jobs.

Ofgem has said energy supplies will continue for customers and credit on accounts will be protected.

The energy price cap is expected to rise by 50 per cent within weeks, hitting already strained wallets even harder.

Speaking after the Commons exchange, the MP said: "The collapse of Together Energy is a huge blow to its employees here in West Dunbartonshire and the 176,000 customers it serves across the UK.

"I've spoken with the senior management of the company based in Clydebank and know they are working flat out with local partners to support workers into new jobs.

"There’s been an abdication of responsibility from this Westminster government as it sits on its hands amidst a national energy crisis. A total of 29 UK energy suppliers have now gone bust in the past year, yet Boris Johnson's government is missing in action as hundreds of jobs are lost and the UK's cost-of-living spirals out of control.

"It's also galling that Ofgem and the UK Government have failed to support smaller energy suppliers, especially ones that have been well financed - all while the big players scoop-up new customers with inflated energy plans.

"The UK's energy crisis falls firmly at the door of Downing Street, and they need to act now to ease the financial pressures on families facing the difficult choice between heating or eating."