Wednesday, February 12

Charities turn on Sunak with major warning


Three of the UK’s leading charities have come together and called on Rishi Sunak to increase benefits in line with inflation in this week’s budget, warning “people are existing, not living” amid the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

Their intervention comes after inflation hit 10.1% in the 12 months to September and the average yearly energy bill hit £2,500 in October – almost double what it was last year.

Amid the bleak economic backdrop, chancellor Jeremy Hunt intends to raise £33bn through spending cuts and £22bn through tax rises in Thursday’s autumn statement, according to The Telegraph.

The government has hinted pensions will be protected and will still get a 10.1% inflationary increase – with Sunak claiming pensioners are “always at the forefront” of his mind.

However, he has not provided similar assurances on benefits despite calls from his own MPs to uprate payments in line with inflation.

Three of the UK’s leading charities have come together and called on Rishi Sunak to increase benefits in line with inflation in this week’s budget, warning “people are existing, not living” amid the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

Their intervention comes after inflation hit 10.1% in the 12 months to September and the average yearly energy bill hit £2,500 in October – almost double what it was last year.

Amid the bleak economic backdrop, chancellor Jeremy Hunt intends to raise £33bn through spending cuts and £22bn through tax rises in Thursday’s autumn statement, according to The Telegraph.

The government has hinted pensions will be protected and will still get a 10.1% inflationary increase – with Sunak claiming pensioners are “always at the forefront” of his mind.

However, he has not provided similar assurances on benefits despite calls from his own MPs to uprate payments in line with inflation.