Britain on Wednesday unveils a new cost-of-living budget, including more help on soaring energy bills, but the government is set to stand firm on rising public sector pay demands as the country endures a fresh wave of strikes.
Finance minister Jeremy Hunt delivers his tax and spending plan to parliament from 1230 GMT, as teachers, junior doctors, civil servants, BBC journalists and drivers on London’s underground Tube railway stage the latest day of mass walkouts.
Public and private sector workers show little sign of ending strike action that began last year when rocketing inflation slashed the value of wages.
The government Wednesday said it would extend a subsidy on energy bills for a further three months after the invasion of Ukraine by oil and gas producer Russia sent them surging.
“Continuing to hold down energy bills is part of our plan to help hardworking families with the cost of living and halve inflation this year,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
The Conservative administration has meanwhile flagged increased childcare funding and other proposals aimed at encouraging parents, the over-50s and others back into the jobs market.
It is looking to fill 1.1 million staff vacancies — in part caused by a lack of EU workers following Brexit and owing to a record number of people classed as long-term sick.—AFP
