CONSUMER champion Martin Lewis has warned “civil unrest isn’t far away” as Brits suffer amid the cost of living crisis.
The Money Saving Expert founder, who was moved to tears during a recent radio appearance as he heard of people’s hardship, said many have “nothing left to cut back on“.
2
It’s particularly true for middle-income earners who are finding themselves unable to pay their bills as the cost of food and heating surges, he said.
The financial ace has called on Rishi Sunak to ensure all of those earning around £30,000 a year have at least half of their energy price rise covered this April.
But Mr Lewis said if Sunak doesn’t act quickly, he could face yet more problems from furious and terrified families who are “tearing their hair out”.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Mr Lewis said: “For people towards the bottom end, there’s nothing to cut back on.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that there are people we have to prevent freezing or starving.
“We need to keep people fed. We need to keep them warm.
“If we get this wrong right now, then we get to the point where we start to risk civil unrest.
Most read in The Sun
“When breadwinners cannot provide, anger brews and civil unrest brews – and I do not think we are very far off.”
On April 1, energy bills rose by a shocking 54 per cent, the equivalent of around £700 a year. Meanwhile, petrol prices rose by 39 per cent, an increase of £23 per tank.
Council tax, National Insurance, water, broadband, phone and TV bills also became more expensive.
It means the cost already borne by Brits will rise by another £2,620 in 2022.
The situation will likely worsen in October, when the energy price cap could increase by a further £788. A quarter of all people living in the UK may be unable to turn their heating on from the autumn.
Mr Lewis said he feels “slightly sick” at the catastrophe many are facing.
His site now offers a Heat The Human feature, which includes tips on how to put hot water bottles inside sleeping bags rather than turn on the heating.
When breadwinners cannot provide, anger brews and civil unrest brews – and I do not think we are very far off
Mr Sunak has unveiled some measures to help with rising energy prices, including a £200 loan to assist with energy bills, which comes through in October.
However, Mr Lewis said even more needs to be done for lower to middle income earners.
Mr Sunak is already facing a storm that could derail his political career following revelations about his family’s tax arrangements.
His wife Akshata Murty has volunteered to pay UK tax on her global fortune after widespread criticism.
2
Feeling the pinch? You’re not alone
This is how much more you’re now paying in bills
- Energy bills, up 54 per cent or £693 extra a year
- Petrol, up 39 per cent or £23 extra per tank
- Council tax, up 3.5 per cent or £67 extra a year
- National insurance, up 1.25 percentage points
- Water bills, up 1.7 per cent, or £7 extra a year
- Broadband, phones and TV, £42 extra or more a year
- Vehicle excise duty, up six per cent, or up to £30 more a year
- Pint of beer, up five per cent, or 20p per drink
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
