OPFS response to UK ‘inequality budget’

26/09/2022

News

“There is nothing in this budget to support those at the sharpest end of the crisis. It shows a wilful disregard of the struggles facing low-income families, and an absence of any additional help to get people through the cost-of-living crisis, with income increases targeted at the richest.

“Our own research shows single parents having to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their children. They can’t wait for the promised gains of economic growth to trickle down to help them pay for the basics. The energy price cap sets bills at a level already unaffordable. With food rising more sharply than inflation, and no action from the Westminster government, it will be a bitter winter ahead for many parents and children living without a lifeline.

“The Government should have decided to uprate social security benefits for those who aren’t able to take paid work and those in low paid employment early. Those on the lowest incomes will have run out of options this winter – forced to cut back on food and energy, go into debt and into arrears with an immense impact on the health and wellbeing of millions of families.  High and embedded inequality means increased child poverty, poorer mental health and the fabric of our society damaged – until inequality reduction is at the heart of policy making, we will see little progress in giving all of our children the best start in life.”