‘Sunak shows disregard for consequences of poverty as Brits face bills crisis’

Water bills are going up, council taxes are rising and energy bills are set to increase by more than 50%. The Tories are either blind to the misery they are overseeing or completely indifferent to it

Home across the land are this morning braced for a fresh wave of economic pain.

Water bills are going up, council taxes are rising and energy bills are set to increase by more than 50%.

The hike in National Insurance contributions will soon follow.

All this against a backdrop of runaway inflation, stagnant wages and soaring food and fuel costs. Families already struggling face a grim future as the crisis really starts to bite.

The Tories are either blind to the misery they are overseeing or completely indifferent to it.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak had a chance in last week’s spring statement to help us through this storm. The Government did not have to sit on the sidelines. It was not powerless to act.

It could have raised pensions and benefits in line with inflation. It could have imposed a windfall tax on the oil and gas giants.

It could have halted the National Insurance rise coming into force on April 6.

The fact the Chancellor opted for the bare minimum shows not only how little he understands stricken families but also displays callous disregard for consequences of poverty.

This is a crisis made in Downing Street. Hard-up Britain is paying the price.

Curb killers

Three young people have been killed by out-of-control dogs in less than a month.

These tragic deaths are even more upsetting because they were preventable.

They happened because of a failure to control ownership of dangerous dogs.

Laws could have been strengthened to stop the sale and breeding of aggressive breeds.

There could have been tougher penalties for owners who fail to control their lethal animals.

How many more deaths will it require before ministers act?

No Snickering

A quarter of young people would rather have a choc bar than sex.

Apparently it’s how they get their Twix these days. Many will think they must be from Mars.