Britain’s cost-of-living crisis after Trump’s attacks on Iran laid bare | Politics | News
The new cost of living crisis that emerged in the wake of the conflict in Iran has affected people from all walks of life; Britons are canceling travel plans, turning down heat and hunting for bargains. Nearly one in four high-income earners are canceling holidays, while around one in five low-income Britons are reducing their energy use.
Labor is now facing demands from people across the country for bold cross-party action to help them weather this latest economic storm. More in Common found that 31% of Britons earning £100,000 or more said they had changed their travel plans, particularly as a result of the war in Iran; 23 per cent have canceled holidays and a fifth have taken steps such as cutting off heating and electricity.
Only 6% of those earning less than £20,000 canceled their holiday. But 22% have reduced their energy use at home, 21% have cut back on non-essential spending such as eating out and shopping, and 13% have switched to cheaper brands or supermarkets.
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: “Because of the poor choices made by Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband, the UK has been exposed to the effects of the war in Iran. Their tax rises and zero-stakes fanaticism have increased the cost of living, imposing additional costs on hard-working families.”
He pushed for drilling in the North Sea to “deliver a stronger economy and a stronger country”.
Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: “Families up and down the country are being crushed under a record tax burden and this survey shows the real-world impact of Labour’s disgusting decisions. As household bills soar, the Government sits on its hands and chooses to do nothing.”
Both the Tories and Reform England have energy plans that they say could cut bills by as much as £200.
Luke Tryl of More in Common said: “Conflicts in the Middle East may have stopped for now, but the impact of war on daily life in Britain seems very real and very present.”
He warned that “Britons are losing faith in the Government’s ability to insulate the public from the effects of the conflict”, adding: “We know that struggling Britons are more likely to switch to the Greens or Reform.”
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, also pressed for action, saying: “Steep rises in energy and a 30% rise in oil prices have acted as a ‘stealth tax’ on commuting, food and mortgages. The government must commit to immediately freezing fuel duty and scrapping green energy duties to give families more breathing room.”
A Treasury spokesman said: “We know consumers are paying more because of the war in Iran. This is not our war and that is why the British Government did not take part in it. The priority is to reduce tensions and support families during this crisis.”
“We are already cutting energy bills by £150, extending the 5p fuel duty cut, supporting households using heating oil, boosting wages for millions and freezing rail fares and prescription charges.”
