THE price increases for mobile phone contracts have been criticised by a local MP.

Jonathan Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, has criticised the above inflation mid-contract price increases planned by many of the big telecom companies.

Mr Edwards called them ‘unjustified’ particularly during the cost-of-living crisis.

O2 is planning to increase prices by 17.3 per cent and there is a plan for a 14.4 per cent increase by BT, EE, Vodafone, Three, Plusnet Mobile and Talkmobile.

Mr Edwards said: “These above-inflation mid-contract price increases are unjustifiable at a time when so many people are struggling. All households have at least one device that will be affected by these increases along with uncertainty customers face about future price increases.

“We live in a time when we cannot be without these devices, especially with so many people working from home. I hope the telecoms companies will reconsider these increases and that Ofcom will take urgent action on the matter.”

A September report by Ofcom stated that eight million households in the UK were struggling to pay their mobile, broadband and other bills.

Mr Edwards is one of the main sponsors of a Parliamentary motion calling for urgent action by Ofcom and the telecoms companies to rethink the price hikes.