The UK is facing a national emergency. Before the crisis, millions of people across the country were facing a winter choosing between heating or eating. Now, many face not being able to afford either.
In a country as wealthy as ours, this simply isn’t right.
Every day, we support and advocate for people who are struggling to afford everyday essentials. For people in poorly paid jobs, as well as people who can’t work due to ill health or caring responsibilities, it is a daily battle to survive. But ultimately, everyone who needs it should be properly supported when they hit hard times. This means ensuring that, at a minimum, Universal Credit and the benefits system always provides people with enough to be able to afford the basics.
When the Government introduced a temporary increase to Universal Credit during the pandemic, hundreds of thousands were helped out of poverty; proof that the system can work. But the Government cut that increase.
We now face an emergency that many of us believe is an even bigger challenge to our livelihoods.
Together, we are calling upon the new Prime Minister to act with urgency and #FixThisCrisis. We want them to:
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Hold an emergency budget as soon as possible on the cost of living crisis.
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Increase Universal Credit and benefits so everyone can afford to live.
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Permanently get the energy cap under control and fix our broken energy system.