Six million workers have NO savings to buffer against hikes in energy bills and tax
SIX million workers have no savings to buffer against hikes in energy bills and tax.
And half the UK’s 27million working families have less than £3,000 to spare.
The figures emerged ahead of power bills soaring in early 2022 as National Insurance rises kick in — costing households and extra £1,200 a year.
Leading Tory backbencher John Redwood yesterday reiterated calls to ditch the new levies.
He said: “The Conservative 2019 Manifesto promised no increase in the main taxes and control of energy bills.
“I look forward to helping the Government deliver those promises. Stopping the tax rises and increasing domestic energy supply would help.”
The savings statistics are the result of analysis by Labour.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “The simple truth is people are skint with little if any savings to fall back on.
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“Ordinary working families shouldn’t be forced to pay the price for Boris Johnson’s economic failure.
“Unlike the Conservatives, Labour wouldn’t be hitting working people with a tax hike. And, as heating bills rise, we’d help ease the burden on households by cutting VAT on domestic energy bills for the winter months.”
A Government spokesman insisted: “We recognise people are facing pressures, which is why we’re taking £4.2billion of decisive action to help.
“We are providing extensive support to those on the lowest incomes — including putting an average of £1,000 more per year into the pockets of working families on Universal Credit, increasing the minimum wage and helping with the cost of fuel bills.
“Our £500million Household Support Fund is also giving more help to the most vulnerable, and councils have been given an extra £65million to support low income households with rent arrears.”