Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown calls for an end to"food-bank Britain", speaking out about nurses having to queue up for food parcels after finishing their shifts. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PABoris Johnson and the Tory leadership candidates should agree an immediate emergency budget tackling the spiralling cost of living, Gordon Brown has said, or risk “condemning millions of vulnerable and blameless children and pensioners to a winter of dire poverty”.
“Boris Johnson, Sunak and Truss must this week agree an emergency budget. If they do not, parliament should be recalled to force them to do so,” he said. Labour leader Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, have not yet finalised the package, but have concluded that big measures are needed. “We recognise that this is an emergency situation and that requires a response that matches the moment,” said a senior Labour source.
It comes as the Observer has been handed new research that lays bare the scale of the looming crisis. By January, there will be 4.2 million households — or about 11.6 million people – spending more than a quarter of their net income on fuel, according to a study by York University’s social policy research unit.
Matt Copeland, head of policy at the National Energy Action group, said the poorest could be protected with the right action. “With energy bills so high, this winter is going to be a nightmare for millions in the UK,” he said. “However, we want to make it clear that this is avoidable. The UK government has the power to save millions from the hardship of cold homes, crushing debt and unsafe coping tactics.
There are no plans for the leadership candidates to agree to any joint programme before the appointment of a new prime minister next month. Asked how she would help those hit by high energy costs, Ms Truss said last week that she would help by cutting taxes rather than through “handouts”. She has backed cuts to national insurance and a suspension of green levies on bills.
The UK desperately misses having a grown up in charge.
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Protest over rising energy costs in Northern IrelandCampaigners in Northern Ireland have warned there will be fuel poverty deaths this winter unless Stormont 'urgently' introduces regulations to curb rising energy costs. N.Ireland? WHAT ABOUT THE REPUBLIC NetZeroKills There will be deaths this winter in Ireland if the green party are left in government. Edmond Ryan needs to be removed Government NOW. netzerokills notocarbontax I grew in the 50ths when people were struggling to heat their homes. They lit a fire in one room and that's where the family gathered. I don't have to feel nostalgic for those times because they are now back again. Except heating now have standing charges, levies and Vax.
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