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.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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.”
I’ve heard people’s concerns about the impact of the Energy Bills Support Scheme repayments on future bills.
So those repayments will be cancelled.
Furthermore, the £200 of support for household energy bills will be doubled to £400 for everyone. pic.twitter.com/e2O1NYHSc0
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.
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”.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
24-hour bus services are now running across all Greater Manchester boroughs
Emily Sergeant
24-hour bus services are now running across all boroughs in Greater Manchester.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy… and now it’s official, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched those 24-hour buses this month, along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford now join the rest of Greater Manchester in having 24-hour bus services, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that these new services will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
The routes which will run around the clock from Thursday until Sunday are:
50 (Salford – Manchester)
216 (Tameside – Manchester)
263 (Trafford – Manchester)
192 (Stockport – Manchester)
83 (Oldham – Manchester)
All Greater Manchester boroughs now have 24-hour bus services / Credit: TfGM
They launch alongside the most significant service changes to the Bee Network since the completion of bus franchising last year – including other new bus routes, and more frequent services across Greater Manchester.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy everything Greater Manchester offers, without the worry of how to get there and get home,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“By growing the Bee Network, we’re making it easier than ever for people to use the bus, day and night.
“Our night buses are already providing a lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of people who are growing our night-time economy and working in essential public services.”
“Whether people are heading home from a night at the theatre or starting the early shift at a hospital, they can now get on board the night bus as a safe and affordable way to travel.”
Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.
The Manc -
26th May 2022 
