Country cost of living

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

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

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

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

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

SIR – My wife and I have a friend who is a widow in her 80s. Recently we found her in a distressed state. She said that her gas bill, normally about £30 per month, had gone up to £170. She does not bank online and her bank has recently closed its branch in the nearest town four miles away. She tried phoning her supplier, British Gas, only to be told by an automated voice on each attempt that the wait time was “more than an hour”. So distressed has she become that she has had to visit her GP, who suggested that she was suffering from anxiety brought on by the situation with her gas supply. She is now taking anti-anxiety medicine and has managed to get her bill altered. I can only say that this is a disgraceful way to deal with any customer. David J Hartshorn SIR – Gillian Courage (Letters, May 5) writes of her energy supplier’s grab for more money. The same applies to our long-term supplier, Ovo Energy. On Wednesday we received two emails, one complaining about a lack of … [Read more...] about Letters: An automated voice is no comfort to a widow faced with soaring gas bills

A Tory MP has called on Boris Johnson to quit over revelations about partygate. Julian Sturdy said it was ‘in the public interest’ for the prime minister to quit following the publication of the Sue Gray report. While some Conservatives have called on Mr Johnson to quit over the scandal previously, Mr Sturdy is the first do so since the report was published. His intervention will make government whips nervous it could be the first of several, although it remains unclear whether enough formal letters of no confidence will be submitted to trigger a leadership election. The York Outer MP publicly withdrew his support while the PM was meeting with backbenchers. Mr Johnson was greeted by the banging of tables as he entered the meeting room of the 1922 Committee to continue efforts to see off any potential leadership bid. It comes after two snap polls found a clear majority of voters think the PM should quit over the affair. In a statement, Mr Sturdy said: … [Read more...] about Tory MP calls on Boris Johnson to quit over partygate sham

Rishi Sunak has unveiled a windfall tax on energy firms who’ve been enjoying extraordinary profits as people face a record hike in fuel bills. The Chancellor previously was against the idea, claiming it would hamper these companies’ investments and raise prices for consumers. But he later appeared to change his tune, saying ‘no options are off the table’ if he doesn’t see ‘significant investment back in the UK economy’. Supporters of a new tax on energy firms say it would be an ideal way to partly fund a support package to help people through the cost of living crisis. Sunak finally introduced one today, but he dressed it up in the Commons as a ‘temporary targeted energy profits levy’ – rather than a plain old windfall tax. He told MPs it would include a ‘new investment allowance’ to incentivise the Sunak also said he’d make the £200 loan for energy bills a grant that no longer needs to be paid back and increased its sum to £400. Meanwhile the Treasury is to … [Read more...] about Desperate Tories put windfall tax on fuel giants to soften PR blow of Partygate

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines Surging migration | More than one million foreign nationals have been allowed to live in the UK for the first time in modern history as the Government was accused of breaking its Brexit promises. The data also showed that three-quarters of the initial asylum applications are being granted, the highest rate for 30 years , despite the Government's claims to be cracking down on illegal arrivals and bogus claims. Kevin Spacey | Star charged with four counts of sexual assault in UK Bernie Ecclestone | Arrested for 'carrying gun while boarding plane' How to Murder Your Husband | Author guilty of murdering husband Daily toll | Drivers over bridge face charges under privatisation plans Home video | Queen shown in her youth in never before seen footage The big story: Rishi Sunak announces windfall tax Tory MPs have warned Rishi Sunak that his windfall tax on oil and gas giants could stifle economic growth as … [Read more...] about Thursday evening UK news briefing: Rishi Sunak ‘throwing meat to socialists’