Responding to the statement by
Chancellor , Rebecca McDonald, Chief
Economist for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
said:
“The Chancellor is moving quickly in
extraordinarily challenging times to try to bring stability to
the markets. Families on low incomes, trying to afford the
essentials, pay their rent, and keep food on the table,
desperately need that stability
too.
“He could and should confirm today
that the government will uprate benefits in line with Wednesday’s
inflation figure to ensure that the UK does not face historic
levels of hardship on his watch – the polling shows the public
agree that this is the right thing to
do.
“The cost of living crisis continues
to intensify for many families, who are approaching the winter
with an increasing sense of fear. The review on help with energy
bills is important but ongoing support must be effectively
targeted at those who need it.
“The country can’t afford another
self-inflicted wound so it is crucial that we learn lessons from
the past and don’t cut back on the services people need, and
which could easily be overwhelmed if hardship
increases.
“This Government surely cannot wish to
be remembered for withholding hundreds of pounds from millions of
families when the basic rate of benefits is already at its lowest
in real terms for 40 years and prices are rocketing. The
Chancellor is moving at pace and should confirm that he will also
go ahead with uprating benefits as soon as possible.”
