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All UK households will get a £400 discount on energy bills this autumn
It's part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's package of measures to tackle the cost of living crisis worth £15 billion.
The government has confirmed that every household in the UK is to get an energy bill discount of £400 this autumn.
With the rising cost of living crisis continuing to make its impact felt across the country, and in the wake of inflation having now risen to the 40-year UK high of 9%, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has this afternoon announced to a package of new measures to tackle soaring prices following warnings that millions could be left struggling come October.
Mr Sunak said he had offered “significant support” for the whole UK.
The package of new measures – which is said to be worth £15 billion in total – will be partly funded through a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas firms’ profits, which have seen unprecedented rises in recent months.
As well as all UK households being set to receive a £400 discount towards energy bills, the government has also announced a one-off payment of £650 will go to eight million low-income households.
Read more: Inflation rises to 40-year UK high of 9% amid cost of living crisis
Announcing the support in an address to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon, Mr Sunak: “We know that people are facing challenges with the cost of living and that is why today I’m stepping in with further support to help with rising energy bills.
“We have a collective responsibility to help those who are paying the highest price for the high inflation we face [and] that is why I’m targeting this significant support to millions of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“I said we would stand by people and that is what this support does today.”
The Chancellor’s announcement today comes after the UK’s energy regulator Ofgem said on Wednesday that the typical household energy bill was set to rise by £800 in October, bringing it to £2,800 a year.
Read more: Ofgem confirms energy price cap will rise to £2,800 in October
The regulator warned that 12 million households across the country could be pushed into poverty because of the price cap rise.
Bills had already risen by £700 on average in April.
There will also be separate one-off payments of £300 to households with pension incomes and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits – which the Chancellor calls groups who are “most vulnerable to rising prices”.
Featured Image – Number 10 (via Flickr)
News
A former beauty queen, 25, has died suddenly after collapsing at stables owned by Michael Owen
Daisy Jackson
A former beauty queen has died at just 25 years old, after she collapsed at the stables owned by Michael Owen.
Jessica Whalley worked at Manor House Stables and had previously taken part in the Miss Tourism Universe pageant.
Emergency services were called to the equestrian facility in Malpas, Cheshire, on Tuesday morning to reports that the young woman had collapsed.
Tragically, paramedics were unable to revive Jessica, and she died at the scene.
Manor House Stables, which is owned by former England, Liverpool FC and Manchester United legend Michael Owen, has put out a statement.
They wrote: “It is with deep sadness that we have to announce that a much-valued member of our team died at work this morning.
“The family have been informed and both the family and the team at Manor House request privacy at this time.”
In a statement, Cheshire Police said: “At around 8.50am today, Tuesday 28 March, police were made aware that a 25-year-old woman had collapsed at a stables on Old Coach Road, Malpas.
“Emergency services attended the location and, despite the best efforts of all those involved, the woman sadly died at the scene.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and her next of kin have been informed. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Jockey Zander Voy also shared a tribute to Jessica Whalley, posting: “It’s heartbreaking to hear Jess lost her life today at the tender age of 25.
“She was riding out doing what she loved. We had so many great times working in Dubai. May she rest in peace. Here’s her just 72 hours ago.”
Read more
Featured image: Instagram
News
Keir Starmer says Labour will ‘freeze’ council tax this year if elected
Emily Sergeant
Keir Starmer has said he will “freeze” council tax in England this year if Labour triumphs in the upcoming local elections.
The Labour leader says his party will cut tax “for the many, not just for the top 1%.”
With the next local elections coming up on 4 May 2023, and Labour hoping to gain in its number of seats across England and Wales, Sir Keir Starmer appeared in Swindon today to launch his party’s election campaign, and hit out at the Conservative Party for being “nowhere near good enough” over their last 13 years of power.
Starmer notably blasted the Tories for their decision to raise tax-free pension limits in its most recent Budget announcement – which is set to benefit the most well-off in our society – and said Labour would counteract this and represent working people.
It comes after almost three in four local Councils say they are planning to increase the cost by the maximum amount allowed after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt raised the cap on council tax increases without a referendum from 3% to 5%.
Council leaders claim they have “little choice” but to increase costs as the rising cost of living crisis sadly continues to make its impact felt nationwide.
Speaking at the launch of Labour’s campaign today, Starmer stated “there is a choice on tax” for the public to make in the upcoming local elections.
He added: “A Tory choice – taxes up for working people, tax cuts for the 1% – or a Labour choice, where we cut business rates to save our high streets and where, if there was a Labour government, you could take that council tax rise you just got and rip it up.
“A Labour government would freeze your council tax this year – that’s our choice. A tax cut for the many, not just for the top 1%. So take this message to every doorstep in your community: Labour is the party of lower taxes for working people.
“That’s the difference we can make. That’s the choice in May. A better Britain.”
Starmer said he intends for the pledges he made in Labour’s local election campaign launch to “send a message to the government” after their 13 years in power.
“What they’ve delivered to our country nowhere near good enough,” he said
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“We’ve got to get out there and show people the difference Labour can make. Let them see our hunger for change. We have to prove that this suffocating cost of living crisis, the path of decline the Tories have set Britain on, the endless sticking plaster politics, is not inevitable.
“There is a choice.”
Featured Image – gov.uk
The Manc -
26th May 2022 
