Chancellor told it’s time to act on cost of living

Chancellor told it’s time to act on cost of living

29 June 2022

SOUTH Down MP Chris Hazzard has called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to “listen to workers” and act on the soaring cost of living as diesel and petrol prices become unaffordable for workers and families.

The MP said that for months the cost of living has been on a steep, upward trajectory, with inflation predicted to hit 11% over the next couple of months.

“All this is impacting on workers, families and businesses and Boris Johnson and his government need to listen to workers and act now,” Mr Hazzard declared.

“While the Tory government did announce some measures in recent weeks, further action is urgently needed, particularly in relation to rising fuel costs with prices on the verge of hitting £2 per litre, compared to £1.30 per litre this time last year.”

Mr Hazzard said many people are calculating the cost of every journey and only making the ones they can’t avoid.

“I have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling on the British government to act immediately to cut duty on fuel further and to also slash VAT on fuel and energy,” the MP confirmed.

“The DUP must also stop holding people to ransom and get back into the Executive so that we can get the £435m sitting in a Stormont bank account out into the pockets of workers and families.”