The cost living crisis is hitting people's pockets hard all the world. Soaring oil and gas prices have made basic necessities food, heating and transport unaffordable many people. In the UK over the past few months, the debate has been the shocking dilemma "heating or eating". Energy prices have more than doubled this year many consumers, resulting in those low incomes or on benefits facing the choice of heating their home, or eating. Life is so hard some that they do not have enough money to use gas or electricity to boil potatoes. This situation will be exacerbated by rises in contributions to the country's health care system, which come effect next week.
Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown lambasted the man responsible controlling Britain's finances, chancellor Rishi Sunak. Mr Brown said: "Any caring and compassionate chancellor would want to do something this poverty....You cannot ignore the needs parents who are having to choose putting their heating and feeding their children." He added that it was urgent the chancellor to act, or the ruling Conservative Party will be known as the "nasty" party. Further price hikes and food shortages are the horizon as the war in Ukraine will see the price wheat rise. Government critics are calling a one-off "windfall tax" on the huge profits energy companies to help the disadvantaged.
