🗳️The Bottom Line: How bold action on the cost of living is key to the next election Our new report sets out what voters (especially swing voters) are hearing from the parties, how they are responding & the messages & policies that might sway their vote🧵 https://t.co/ZC9t2y4Zrr

"Taxing the rich is the only way to make the economy better." Gary Stevenson demands a wealth tax outside of the Treasury.

🚨 Spring Statement: Welfare cuts for disabled people threaten the most vulnerable. We're deeply concerned about the impact on families already struggling. #SpringStatement #Poverty #UK

Our response to the Spring Statement

This government says they're cutting benefits to encourage people to work. But the DWP & OBR between them haven't yet been able to forecast any impact on employment outcomes. They're causing huge hardship without any analysis of whether it will even help meet their goals.

In the short term, that means fixing the broken energy market so that everyone’s basic energy needs can always be met, while speeding up the investment in renewables that will give us clean, affordable energy for the long term.

The Government needs to take action to ensure that essentials like energy are affordable now and remain so in the future.

Being able to heat your home and turn on the lights shouldn’t be luxuries, but with energy prices still way above their pre-crisis average, that’s exactly what they are for too many people.

Today’s energy price cap increase of 6.4% is yet another blow for the millions of households continuing to struggle with the cost of living. 🧵

The Prime Minister is right to focus on improving living standards. But today’s Plan for Change cannot be the height of the government’s ambition. For more ideas on how we can #StopTheSqueeze, visit our website:

We also need a guaranteed Living Income so that people can not only survive but live well. The social security system and minimum wage must provide a guaranteed income floor, linked to the cost of living, below which nobody can fall.

Keir Starmer says that the route to better living standards is through good, stable jobs. Of course this is necessary. But it’s not the full picture. What’s missing is action to guarantee that the essentials of life remain affordable for everyone.

It was good to see the new emphasis on living standards in the Prime Minister’s speech today. There is no point in economic growth that doesn’t improve people’s economic security and end the cost of living crisis. 🧵 https://t.co/zuHpjyBB39

WRITE TO YOUR MP The G20 Summit and UN Tax Convention negotiations are both happening this month – chances to cooperate on taxing wealth to address inequality and climate change. Ask your MP to pressure @Keir_Starmer to support the proposals: https://t.co/SaboMtXt5B

We need long-term solutions to fix the structural issues with our economy that are squeezing household finances. That means: 👉 Introducing a living income for all 👉 Guaranteeing affordable essentials 👉 Raising taxes on wealth

Yesterday’s tax increases were needed. But the tax system still disproportionately taxes income from work rather than wealth. There are many other ways to make sure those who own and earn the most pay their proper share.

We need action to reform broken markets, crack down on excess profits, increase investment in public services and infrastructure to secure a climate safe future, and guarantee affordable essentials both now and in the long term.

Investing in cleaner, cheaper energy is the best way to lower people’s bills. But there is still work to do to ensure that all of the essentials of life - clean energy, nutritious food, and decent housing - remain affordable for all.

Everyone should have access to a living income that allows them not only to survive but to live well. A small 1.7% uplift to Universal Credit shows that there is a long way to go. There must be a minimum income floor beneath which nobody – whether in work or not – can fall.

There was some good news for the cost of living, such as an increase to the minimum wage. But there is still so much work to do to address the structural imbalances in our economy.

The public’s view is clear – the cost of living crisis and the NHS should be the government’s top priorities. But is that what we saw in yesterday’s Budget? 🧵