Country cost of living comparison

By Kevin Peachey Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Support to help people deal with soaring energy bills this winter has been outlined by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak. The measures are a mix of broad help and specific payments to those on lower incomes. All UK households to get an energy bill discount All UK households will get a grant which will reduce energy bills by £400 from October. Previously, the chancellor had said £200 would be knocked off everyone's energy bills, but would have to be paid back in instalments over five years. Now, the discount has been doubled to £400 and he has cancelled the requirement to repay. In other words, from October, everyone's energy bill will be reduced by £400. In technical terms. it will apply directly for households in England, Scotland, and Wales. The equivalent funds should be given to … [Read more...] about Cost of living: What Rishi Sunak’s help means for you

The UK has been rocked by soaring energy bills , petrol price hikes and other rising expenses amid the cost of living crisis. Many families and households have been plunged into poverty , with half of people saying their health has gotten worse since costs began rising . However, less than 24 hours after Sue Gray’s damning Partygate report was released, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a string of measures to help struggling households cope. If you’ve been worried about how to cover costs, you’ll be pleased to know you could be eligible for over £1,000 of support that will no longer need to be repaid – a huge U-turn from the initial offerings laid out by the government just months ago. Here’s everything you need to know about every cost of living measure that has been announced and whether you’re eligible for the incentives. All the new government Cost of Living support Energy Bills With gas prices reaching record highs amid a surge in demand … [Read more...] about What cost of living support is available? New Rishi Sunak measures explained

I don’t ever remember being able to fully see. The last visual memory I have is walking along a path when I was around 18 years old; I can remember that it was summer and that I could see a flash of colours, in the flowers and the grass around me. But I had started to lose my sight years before then, from around five years old, before being registered as severely blind as a teenager. My sight impairment is primarily caused by glaucoma – a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, caused by an abnormally high pressure in the eye. The health of the optic nerve is essential to be able to see. The impact that being severely blind has on my life is enormous – it means that I can’t live independently and that I have to rely on my family for care. It also means that, as a disabled person, the cost of living crisis is impacting me, and my family, hugely. In fact, disabled people – myself included – are often hit hardest by price hikes like this. It may be … [Read more...] about I’m blind and can’t get a job – disabled people are being forgotten in the cost of living crisis

A windfall tax "will bring about job losses", the energy industry has warned. Deirdre Michie, chief executive of Offshore Energies UK, which represents the offshore oil and gas industry, said their supply chain is "really worried" about the implications of a windfall tax, which was announced today. "That will directly impact manufacturing in this country," she said. "It will undermine our supply chain, and it will bring about job losses." Windfall tax only equals £60 for every household - live updates Advertisement Speaking before the chancellor outlined plans for the tax, Ms Michie said "we need to wait to see what the details are", but added: "This isn't feeling good, to have this unexpected surprise on a sector that has been committed to working positively with the government on the security of energy supply and on the energy transition." She said history shows that a windfall tax "doesn't work" because it undermines investment. More on … [Read more...] about Cost of living: Windfall tax ‘will bring about job losses’, energy industry warns

RISHI Sunak today unveiled a bumper package to help hard-up Brits with the soaring cost of living. The Chancellor announced £15billion worth of relief, including £1,500 for the poorest households and energy discounts for all, to ease the pressure on people's finances. Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Mr Sunak revealed families across the country can expect money off their sky-rocketing bills, which are set to rise to £2,800 a year from October, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas firms. The much-needed cash will be an increase to the £200 saving unveiled earlier in the year, to be paid back in chunks over five years. And it will take the form of a grant, not a loan, and therefore not need to be repaid. Elsewhere in Mr Sunak's multi-billion pound plans to draw a line under Partygate and focus on the squeeze in living standards caused by inflation, he said he will assist Britain's poorest. READ MORE ON COST OF LIVING … [Read more...] about Rishi Sunak announcement: Chancellor reveals £1,500 for poorest Brits in bumper £15bn cost-of-living package

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £15bn package of cost of living support including a £400 discount on energy bills for all and a £650 one-off payment to the poorest eight million households. The measures will be partly funded by a temporary levy on oil and gas companies which are enjoying bumper profits, as a result of soaring prices, that is expected to raise £5bn over the next year. It comes after inflation soared to a 40-year high, with energy bills set to climb by a further £800 in the autumn, and the Bank of England warning of "apocalyptic" food price rises as a result of the war in Ukraine. Announcing the policy in the House of Commons, Mr Sunak acknowledged that people were struggling. He said: "We will get through this, we have the tools and the determination we need to combat and reduce inflation. We will make sure the most vulnerable and least well off get the support they need at this time of difficulty Advertisement "We know that … [Read more...] about Sunak unveils £15bn package and U-turns on windfall tax to help Britons ‘hit hard’ by cost of living surge

Russians are now being told that Brits are resorting to cannibalism to get through the cost of living crisis. Pro-Kremlin outlet TsargradTV has blamed – and dramatically exaggerated – the UK’s economic issues on sanctions against Russia . Britain’s support for Ukraine has supposedly backfired so badly that the population has been left with no choice but to eat each other, the station suggested. TsargradTV claimed that the UK had fallen victim to the ‘risk of cannibalism’, as Europe faces ‘starvation’. The outlet, owned by Putin-supporting businessman Konstantin Malofeev, published a story this week called ‘Cold, Hunger, Cannibalism: London fell into its own Ukrainian pit.’ It read: ‘Things are not going well in the UK. While politicians are playing into the Ukrainian crisis, their own population is preparing for starvation. ‘And journalists begin to say terrible things aloud, reminding them of the risk of cannibalism. ‘Europe is seeing an explosion in … [Read more...] about Russian TV claims Brits ‘on verge of cannibalism’ amid cost of living crisis

HOLLY Willoughby was left unimpressed by This Morning guest Beverley Turner today after she insisted unemployed mums should get a job to ease cost of living crisis. The presenter, 41, argued the situation was "impossible" as desperate families 'live' in McDonald's with their kids to dodge energy bills. Holly said it was the "saddest" thing she'd ever heard - but commentator Beverley criticised those not taking up jobs in cafes and shops while their children are at school. Reacting to the news that some hard-up Brits are using the fast-food chain's electricity as prices soar, Beverley: "I don't think there are many people doing that, we need to keep perspective in a way." But Holly argued even if it was just one person, it was "one too many". Refusing to back down on her argument, Beverley said: "I'm going to sound incredibly callous now, but there is a huge employment shortage. READ MORE ON HOLLY WILLOUGHBY TOP DOG Holly Willoughby shares … [Read more...] about Holly Willoughby sees red as This Morning guest Beverley Turner tells mums ‘get a job’ to ease cost-of-living crisis

Published 27 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing People are gambling to try to pay off soaring gas and electric bills, a trade union leader has warned on the day extra help with charges was unveiled. All UK households will get an energy bill discount of £400 this autumn, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced. Earlier, the Wales TUC's Shavanah Taj said pensioners were "being forced to return to work" to make ends meet. She said teaching staff were working extra shifts in shops and hospitality to cope with the cost of living crisis. How plans to tackle cost of living will affect you Live page: Millions to get support with energy bills Typical energy bill set to rise by £800 a year After mounting pressure on UK ministers to do more to help people with the cost of living, Mr Sunak told MPs the poorest households would get a one-off payment of £650. … [Read more...] about Cost of living: People gambling to pay energy bills, says union leader

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a series of payments to UK households struggling with the deepening cost-of-living crisis as he confirmed a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas giants. Here is what the package means for you. – Households will receive a non-repayable £400 energy grant Households in England , Scotland and Wales will receive a £400 payment to help offset the soaring increase in energy bills from October. All households with a domestic electricity connection will be automatically eligible for the grant. Recommended What Rishi Sunak announced to tackle the cost of living crisis More Tory MPs withdraw support from PM over ‘shameful’ parties Bill payers will not need to contact their energy company as the grant will be automatically applied to every household bill in October. Direct debit and credit users will have the money credited to their account, while those with pre-payment meters will have the … [Read more...] about The cost-of-living support package: What it means for you