TSSA calls for emergency budget 

TSSA has called for an emergency budget “to ensure no-on is left behind” in response to the government’s cost-of-living support package. 

The Chancellor announced the package today (Thursday) which includes £400 off energy bills for all households and further targeted support for low-income households which the government says will be worth at least £1,200 for eight million vulnerable households. Energy bills are expected to rise to £2,800 a year and RPI inflation is currently running at over 11% with wages failing to keep up with soaring food and energy prices. 

Commenting on the Chancellor’s package, Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “This package although somewhat late is welcome, but we need an emergency budget to deal with the cost-of-living crisis to ensure that no-one is left behind. 

“Inflation is expected to continue to rise until at least the Autumn and we are already seeing working people relying on food banks to feed their families. Just yesterday, the boss of energy regulator Ofgem warned that household energy bills are expected to rise by around £800 a year from October. This is unsustainable. 

“The government must be far more ambitious when it comes to investing in renewable energy to increase low-carbon domestic generation, and in energy efficiency initiatives including retrofitting and insulating homes, schools and workplaces so that we can break the cycle of dependence on expensive energy sources.” 

Warnings about energy bills rising by around £800 a year from October follow the energy price cap rise in April 2022. Ofgem head Jonathan Brearley predicted that fuel poverty (defined by spending 10% or more of household disposable income on energy) may double to 12 million people.