The government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary year, contained in the Queen’s Speech of 10 May, failed to offer new help in tackling Britain’s cost of living crisis and threatens to pull hundreds of thousands more households into poverty, the St Vincent de Paul Society has warned.
The government raised the national living wage by 6.6 per cent to £9.50 from April 2022. However, implementing the £9.90 real living wage would have gone further to appease anxiety for millions of people who have seen spiralling inflation outstrip wage and benefits rises.
The long-awaited Employment Bill, aimed at strengthening workers’ rights, was absent. The SVP has campaigned for improved security and flexibility for low-paid workers, and feels the government's measures to tackle soaring energy costs for households do not go far enough to offset the a rise of more than 50 per cent in bills for millions of families. Many of these are having to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table, the charity said.
SVP national president Helen O’Shea said: “Every day our members working in communities and our staff in our St Vincent’s centres and shops across England and Wales see the effects of the cost of living crisis on families, individuals and vulnerable people.” She praised the work of food banks and other charitable projects but added: “It is only through legislation built on equality, fairness and inclusion which will provide long-term solutions to the current squeeze on household incomes.”
Catholic Union director, Nigel Parker, said: “Families across the country are seeing costs going up faster than their income and there needs to be much greater support for families most in need.” He said the government should use the time left in this parliament to reduce the tax burden on families. The Catholic Union has put forward plans that would help families keep more of the money they earn and tackle child poverty.
CSAN has supported those in care work who expressed disappointment at the failure to mention adult social care in the Queen’s Speech, suggesting it does not have a high enough priority in the government’s agenda.
Hexham and Newcastle diocese is advertising a new short video, “Living Wage and Catholic Social Teaching”, produced by Citizens UK. In it, Bishop Patrick McKinney of Nottingham says: “With the cost of living constantly rising, too many people are still suffering and need to work multiple jobs so as the make ends meet.” All his diocesan staff are paid a living wage.
Manchester-based Church Action on Poverty, the ecumenical group which focuses on structural change to tackle the root causes of poverty, is asking for donations to help alleviate the immediate emergency facing people nationally caused by soaring living costs and squeezed incomes.
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