Unions urge Sunak to address Ukraine and cost of living in spring statement
Rishi Sunak is facing pressure to use his spring statement this month to launch an emergency support package in response to the war in Ukraine, with measures to boost humanitarian aid and help for UK households with soaring energy bills.
Urging the chancellor to announce a comprehensive set of measures at the mini-budget due on 23 March, the heads of the TUC and Britain’s biggest trade unions said financial assistance was vital to cushion the impact from Russia’s invasion.
In a letter to Sunak seen by the Guardian, the union leaders said a step-change in financial support was required for the people of Ukraine as well as for UK families struggling with a cost of living crisis as the conflict drives up energy prices.
The wholesale cost of gas broke records on Friday, with the UK benchmark rising to 480p per therm, while petrol hit a new high at the pump of 153p per litre.
Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, said: “Working people in the UK will need protection from even steeper hikes in gas bills from the conflict. The chancellor should introduce grants to help with energy prices, roll out an emergency programme of home insulation, and fund it with a windfall tax on excess energy profits.”
The intervention comes as analysts warn the conflict in Ukraine could add to the highest rates of inflation for three decades, should a sustained rise in oil and gas prices feed through to household bills.
Poverty campaigners have called on the government to increase the value of universal credit benefits by more than the 3.1% planned for April to prevent a sharp increase in hardship, alongside demands to overhaul the package of energy support announced last month.
Inflation reached 5.5% in January, the highest level since the
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