Poll reveals that 8 in 10 voters in the North East think government “hasn’t done enough” to help with rising cost of living

Fewer than two in ten think ministers are doing enough to help people with the cost of living TUC renews call for Emergency Budget.

Eight in ten of those who voted in Thursday’s local elections in the North East think the government “has not done enough” to help with the rising cost of living, according to a new poll published by the TUC.

Commenting on the poll, TUC regional secretary Liz Blackshaw said: “soaring bills and prices are hammering family budgets here in the North East. Voters have sent out a clear distress call.”

The poll, carried out by Opinium as North East voters went to polling stations on local elections day, reveals that fewer than two in ten think ministers have done enough to help people with rising living costs. The poll also reveals that Britain’s cost of living crisis tops the lists of voters’ concerns in the region.

Three-quarters (76 per cent) of people say the cost of living is the most important issue facing the country.

The TUC says the government’s response to soaring bills and prices has thus far been “woefully inadequate”. The union body is calling on the Chancellor to urgently come back to parliament with an Emergency Budget to help struggling families.

The TUC says ministers should “impose a windfall tax on oil and gas profits to fund energy grants, boost the minimum wage, pensions and Universal Credit and work with unions and employers to get pay rises across the economy”.

Commenting on what the government should do Liz added: “They want the government to do more to help people get through this cost of living emergency. The Chancellor must come back to parliament with an Emergency Budget, to help with energy bills and raise the minimum wage and Universal Credit. The longer ministers delay the more damage will be done.”

Commenting on the poll, Chris Curtis head of political polling at Opinium said, “one thing from this election is already clear. The issue at the top of voters’ minds as they cast their ballots was the cost of living crisis, and hardly anyone thinks the government is doing enough to tackle it.”

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