There are calls for an emergency budget as an unprecedented increase in the energy price cap is applied, with warnings of worse to come when bills start to reflect the effects of Russia's war in Ukraine.
While oil costs were going up last year as demand returned following COVID lockdowns, a far more toxic cocktail of price pressures was forcing up natural gas costs.European nations have suffered in particular because of historically low stocks at a time of strong competition globally for gas.
While it is early days, the prospect of such a rise is frightening heading into the cold winter months, with charities warning that the choice between heating and eating for millions will become even more stark.'People skip meals to pay for energy bills'Rishi Sunak had already revealed, in February, how he would support families with rising energy bills.It is broken down by a £150 rebate for properties in council tax bands A-D in England.
But the government's message has been consistent: making work pay is best for families and the public finances too as the country's debt mountain balloons to £2.3trn.It has pointed to rises in the national minimum wage and national living wage coming into effect today as the crown jewel of its support, saying the lowest-paid 2.5 million people will benefit from the lift.
"With more employees on the payroll than ever before, this government will continue to stand up for workers."
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