Huge rise on Energy bills

LizzieDrip

Good point MayBee70! I think it’s about time for some civil unrest JaneJudge. I too have friends in Europe who cannot believe what we are putting up with in the UK, from a corrupt and heartless government. What’s happened to the collective anger of the Poll Tax protests! Where is the fire in the belly of the UK people! Have we become so passive that we will accept anything thrown at us - no matter how unjust! If people throughout history had done this, what a sorry world we would now be living in. We have to stand up, publicly, for what is right!

I seem to remember that trade unions were decimated by Thatcher but people still had recent memories of protest. The Labour Party, trade unions and other groups would work together to support protest.

Today, we lack the organisation to pull together large protests and until ordinary people band together again civil unrest may take the form of rioting and destruction.

It’s altogether a very uncomfortable place to be.

I am still trying to work out what extra help with energy costs there will be for those pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit guarantee credit.

(I know there are many other people, of all ages, who are/will struggle just as badly because of energy prices, but Gransnet probably has many members who in this particular group.)

Obviously, they will get the so-called 'loan' - the one that will add an extra £40 a year to their bill for the following five years. Very helpful- not!
Plus, I think, an extra £10 a year on their Warm Home discount.

But how many will get any/all of of the £150 Council Tax rebate mentioned? Most already pay this at a reduced rate, or do not pay it at all. Where will they stand regarding this 'rebate'?

Good point MayBee70! I think it’s about time for some civil unrest JaneJudge. I too have friends in Europe who cannot believe what we are putting up with in the UK, from a corrupt and heartless government. What’s happened to the collective anger of the Poll Tax protests! Where is the fire in the belly of the UK people! Have we become so passive that we will accept anything thrown at us - no matter how unjust! If people throughout history had done this, what a sorry world we would now be living in. We have to stand up, publicly, for what is right!

I'm beginning to feel alarmed about this. So I've switched the boiler from Auto to Manual, so that I can control it and have it on less.

We are fortunate enough to be able to cover the increases. DH has been looking to see if there is a local fund we can donate the £200 to. It will be a dreadful worry for so many people.

M0nica, yes, it seems blindingly obvious that funds should go to those who can't afford the increase. Still, when I read your comment:

'Why didn't the governmeny just raise the level of pension credit and increase Universal Credit and in work benefits to make sure the money available was targeted at those who needed it most?'

it occurred to me that their intention is, perhaps, different - to keep their 'devoted voters'. The poor folk will already be on Council Tax reduction, those living alone on 25% discount. It seems that they wanted to soften the blow for the rest of us.

ayse

So £150 off Council tax and a loan to be recovered over 5 years.

Does this mean that our local authorities will receive £150 less per household in bands A-D? Will they then be forced to cut local services further and increase the council tax? If so, they will be blamed for mismanagement of their funds by the government!

IMO, this government will be playing the blame shifting game yet again! Meanwhile many of us will be on or below the breadline and unable to heat our homes.

Yes. That’s what I want to know, too.

WWM2 Unfortunately the media has continually pedalled this until it is believed. In my book it’s called brain washing!

The Tories have always demonised the poorest in society because their poverty is their fault as they are ill educated and don’t work hard enough. The Tory ethos never changes although some are ‘softer’.

Unfortunately we do need people to do the nitty gritty jobs as the pandemic demonstrated. Health, teaching, welfare, shops, cleaning (the service economy) etc. Many of these essential jobs are poorly paid.

Jane43

M0nica

Being in the fortunate position of being able to pay the higher fuel bills without too much problem. I do not want the £200. I would rather it went to someone on a low income as a grant not a loan.

Why didn't the governmeny just raise the level of pension credit and increase Universal Credit and in work benefits to make sure the money available was targeted at those who needed it most?

Agreed Monica and why not stop giving the winter fuel allowance to all pensioners? The money should go to low income families and those on pension credit.

The trouble with that is that the threshold for Pension Credit is low and there are millions just over the threshold who are struggling, but still have to pay their energy bills.

ayse

Dickens it’s the ‘I’m alright Jack’ state, just like the Georgian, Victorian and Great Depression era. Yet still we blame the poorest for the iniquities of this society!

I notice yesterday the language Sunak used which tells you that nothing has really changed.

Bearing in mind that most benefits are paid to working families who wages are so poor that they simply can’t manage and yet even with benefits still have to go to food banks.

Well dear old (too young) Sunak yesterday said.

I have made the decision to not only give the loan to families on benefits but also to hard working middle income families

By implication meaning that those on benefits are not hard working.

I really hoped that we had got beyond that.

A government that is not a supporter of a small state free market economy.

The French government has frozen gas and electric price rises at 4% and given (not loaned) 100€ to less affluent households.

Dickens it’s the ‘I’m alright Jack’ state, just like the Georgian, Victorian and Great Depression era. Yet still we blame the poorest for the iniquities of this society!

ayse

Just for anyone who has wondered what a ‘free market’ economy means, this is a good example of allowing the market to decide.

Exactly!

Free-market, small-state economy.

A libertarian government that believes in "personal responsibility" which, roughly translated, means every-man-for-himself and the devil take the rest.

But people will continue to vote for it - even whilst they are being impoverished. The Tories have managed to convince the electorate that they are the 'natural' party of government and our antiquated electoral system ensures that they will continue to hold the reins of power.

Sadly I did have a perm . I also realise that I am very lucky to be able to heat the house as I wish.

Just for anyone who has wondered what a ‘free market’ economy means, this is a good example of allowing the market to decide.

I think there will be civil unrest. Quite a few of my UK settled friends and colleagues who come from Eastern Europe are surprised there hasn't been unrest already

We may also see a rise in crime, civil unrest and a growing black market.

It looks as if there may be plans for road pricing as well.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60251046

Galaxy

I hate wearing layers, I grew up in a cold house and would rather skimp on food I think than heating.

I remember having to wearing a shellsuit over my pyjamas in bed! Utterly miserable (and no I didn't have a perm)

It is terrible. I don't know how people are going to cope.

Whitewavemark2

The effect of yesterdays strategy will be downward pressure on the economy because people will have less and less disposable income to spend.

There will undoubtedly now be an economic slowdown with business suffering.

Sunak has also ended QE which will also have a deleterious effect on growth.

I think that the country is in for a very bumpy ride economically.

Add Brexit to the list as well.

Calendargirl

I also wonder what some people wear in their homes, as even on a cold day, you often see folk walking about in shorts, lightish coat or jacket unbuttoned, and bare legs and feet, often in flip flop type shoes. And not always young people, I’m amazed how many older women have bare legs in winter.

Currently I’m wearing a vest, three woollen jumpers, thick tights, trousers, thermal socks and slippers with the thermostat set at 18 C, for 3 hours a day. Thermal curtains and blinds as well. Just because some live in a sauna doesn’t mean it applies to everyone!

The effect of yesterdays strategy will be downward pressure on the economy because people will have less and less disposable income to spend.

There will undoubtedly now be an economic slowdown with business suffering.

Sunak has also ended QE which will also have a deleterious effect on growth.

I think that the country is in for a very bumpy ride economically.

BlueBelle

Jane I don’t fully agree why do only people on pension credit get thought about There are many of us who have tried to be careful throughout our lives put a bit away for our old age and don’t qualify although we don’t have a very big annual income
It’s those that are just above pension credit that are going to suffer

I agree Bluebell. We are in similar circumstances. We only have the heating on for 3 hours a day, spread across the day. The chances are that DH’s Attendance Allowance will have to be used for heating.

All families on low incomes will suffer most from this.

Additionally, prices of everything will rise as retailers will put prices up to keep their heating and freezers on, thus putting even more strain on household budgets. This is price inflation, not helped by a rise in interest rates.

I agree with Varian that a Windfall Tax should be placed on the oil and gas companies. The fat cats are making billions whilst ordinary people are suffering.

I hate wearing layers, I grew up in a cold house and would rather skimp on food I think than heating.

I also wonder what some people wear in their homes, as even on a cold day, you often see folk walking about in shorts, lightish coat or jacket unbuttoned, and bare legs and feet, often in flip flop type shoes. And not always young people, I’m amazed how many older women have bare legs in winter.