Millions more Britons now worried about cost of living than when Labour came to power
Almost six in ten adults said their cost of living has increased in the last month - higher than the 45 per cent of people who said this when Labour won the General Election in July 2024.
The most commonly reported reason for a rise in the cost of living was increases in the price of food shopping, with 95 per cent of people saying this had driven their outgoings up.
Some 57 per cent said the price of energy bills had increased their cost of living and 45 per cent said the price of fuel had done so, with this proportion increasing from 38 per cent the month before.
Younger adults - aged under 50 - were more likely to give the cost of living as an important issue for them while older adults - aged over 50 - were more likely say that the NHS is important to them.
The cost of living was the most reported issue among those aged 16 to 29 years - with 86 per cent saying this - and 30 to 49 years with 92 per cent of people in this age group raising living costs.
The NHS was most commonly reported by those aged 50 to 69 years - with 87 per cent saying the health service is an important issue - and 70 years and over with 85 per cent of people in this age group raising the NHS.
The ONS carries out monthly polling on public opinions and social trends to get insights into the daily life of the British public and track how this changes over time. The latest research was carried out between July 2 and 27 and sampled 9,564 households, with results representative of the population.
When asked about the important issues facing the UK in July, the most commonly reported issue was the cost of living, with 85 per cent of people citing this.
Some 81 per cent said the NHS was an important issue and 67 per cent said the economy. Over the past three years, the proportion citing the cost of living and the economy have declined from 93 per cent and 79 per cent respectively in October 2022, while the proportion citing the NHS has remained largely stable.
The proportion reporting that their cost of living has increased has been declining since April this year, when 72 per cent said their outgoings were going up. In July 2024 45 per cent said their cost of living had increased but this had risen to 59 per cent in July this year.
The proportion of people saying immigration and crime are important issues has increased over the years, the ONS said.
In October 2022, 43 per cent of adults cited immigration and 49 per cent cited crime as important issues facing the UK, but these have now risen to 63 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Labour renews 'war on motorists' as it quietly ditches plans to limit new LTNs and 20mph zones
Labour has quietly dropped plans to limit the roll out of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones in what has been dubbed a 'secret war on drivers'. The reforms, which were drawn up by the Tories, would have curbed locals councils' powers to restrict traffic and impose 'unfair' fines and parking charges. Labour ministers, however, dismissed the proposals, saying they 'would have made no positive difference for drivers'. It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced repeated accusations that Labour is launching a 'war on motorists' in England and Wales. Just this week, Labour-run Southwark council was forced to admit it would refund thousands of people after they were unfairly fined for driving in bus lanes. On Saturday, shadow transport secretary Richard Holden branded the decision to scrap the limits on councils' powers over traffic measures a 'secret war on drivers'. The Conservatives also raised fears that increased limits on car use would hit already struggling high streets across the UK. Mr Holden told The Telegraph: 'Labour has been caught red-handed as it steps up its targeted war on motorists. 'Conservatives led the charge against unfair and over-zealous enforcement but our work has been ripped up in underhand attacks without any public consultation or manifesto pledge. 'This is a kick in the teeth to motorists, set to punish beleaguered local high streets and will slam the brakes on the economy even more than Rachel Reeves has done so far.' Back in October 2023, Rishi Sunak announced his party would be introducing a 'Plan for Drivers' to make it harder for local authorities to implement anti-car schemes. The proposals would have forced councils to place more emphasis on the views of local residents and businesses when considering the introduction of LTNs. As a minimum, authorities would have had to hold a series of public meetings, with locals in the affected areas also made aware of the plans through leaflets. However according to the Telegraph's report, ministers have now confirmed that the plans - which were yet to be formalised - have now been shelved. Lilian Greenwood, the roads minister, said the government was considering its 'next steps' and that the work had been 'put on hold'. She added that there are no 'current plans' to change the guidance on the rolling out of 20mph speed limits in England. The minister reiterated that it was up to local authorities to decide where lower speed thresholds would be appropriate in their areas. A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'The Government is absolutely on the side of drivers, focusing on making journeys safer and smoother, and saving motorists money. 'Over the past year alone, we invested an extra £500m to help local authorities resurface roads and fix seven million potholes, reducing congestion and saving drivers up to £600 a year in repairs. 'We've also committed £1bn to repair bridges, flyovers and tunnels, and greenlit over 30 road schemes to improve journeys. 'Meanwhile, we are making our roads safer to drive on and will set out the next steps for the first road safety strategy in over a decade in due course.'
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ed Miliband embroiled in 'hypocrisy' row as Energy Secretary refuses to reveal how many domestic flights he has taken
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has been dubbed a 'hypocrite' after refusing to reveal details concerning his domestic air travel. Ministers asserted the Doncaster North MP would not reveal information regarding flights he had taken within the UK since he joined the cabinet last June. Claire Coutinho, shadow energy secretary, said the refusal inferred there was 'one rule' for Miliband, and 'another for everyone else'. The Conservative MP previously urged Miliband to release details on his domestic UK flights since Labour's loveless landslide in the last general election. However, Michael Shanks said, on the Labour MPs behalf, that 'details of internal domestic flights are not published.' It comes as Labour significantly hiked air passenger duty, adding hundreds of pounds to British family holidays. Ms Coutinho told The Telegraph: 'As Ed Miliband sticks a holiday tax of up to £400 on a family of four, it does seem the height of hypocrisy that he won't reveal his own flights, which are funded by the taxpayer. 'People expect transparency and fairness from their politicians, but when it comes to the most stringent net zero costs, it's one rule for him and another for everyone else.' The Energy Secretary's position does align with others in Westminster departments, which do not publish 'granular' details concerning ministers travel. The Government told the publication it was 'the practice of successive administration' including Conservatives, not to release details of ministers movements. Mr Miliband, who heads the Government's net zero policies, has previously been vocal regarding his opposition to domestic flights, urging Brits to cut down on them. While he was Shadow Business Secretary, he called for the last Government to encourage Brits to travel by train and buses rather than taking to the skies. When queried on if domestic flights he should be banned, he said they shouldn't be banished 'completely, but as much as we possible can.' In 2021, he told the BBC: 'Fairness and giving people alternatives is an absolutely key part of making this transition happen.' Last April, it was revealed his department has spent £44,000 more than the Conservative ministers on domestic air travel between last July and December. In his first half-a-year in office, the Energy Secretary also spent £62,712 on international travel, the Taxpayers' Alliance reported. His Conservative predecessor, Ms Coutinho spent £6,155 in her first six-months in the role, according to The Telegraph. It comes after one of the government's climate advisers was accused of 'rank hypocrisy' after they reportedly racked up 40,000 air miles in a year by jetting to environmental conferences Nigel Topping is one of six members of the Climate Change Committee, which advises Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In February, the committee backed a 'frequent flier levy' to help reach Net Zero. This would see Britons who take the most flights, or fly the furthest distances, taxed more. According to The Telegraph, Mr Topping attended conferences in Barbados, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the Netherlands and the US in the last 12 months. An analysis by the newspaper claimed he accrued 11 times more air miles in the last year than the average Briton. It also claimed that Mr Topping's carbon footprint from flights alone was about 40 per cent more than the average Briton produces in total in a year. Mr Miliband himself was also criticised after it was revealed he had notched up at least 44,600 air miles since he became Energy Secretary last July. It meant he was responsible for at least 54.2 tons of carbon emissions in nine months – more than 12 times the annual emissions of the average Briton. The Daily Mail has approached Ed Miliband, the Labour Party
Leader Live
4 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock calls for two-child benefit cap to be scrapped
Rising levels of poverty 'would make Charles Dickens furious', Lord Kinnock said in an interview with the Sunday Mirror, in which he urged ministers to introduce a wealth tax. Lord Kinnock, who led Labour in opposition between 1983 and 1992, is the latest senior party figure to pressure the current Government to end the two-child limit on benefits. Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown recently said ending the two-child limit, as well as the benefit cap, would be among the most effective ways of reducing child poverty. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Lord Kinnock acknowledged the Government may not be able to scrap the two-child cap 'all at once'. He added: 'But I really want them to move in that direction because the figures are that if that did occur it would mean that about 600,000 kids fewer are in poverty.' Lord Kinnock suggested such a move could be funded by a wealth tax on the 'top 1%', telling the Sunday Mirror: 'I know it's the economics of Robin Hood, but I don't think there is anything terribly bad about that.' He warned that over the decade and a half the Conservatives were in power child poverty gradually rose. The Labour peer told the newspaper: 'In 15 years, starting from a position where beneficial change was taking place, we've got to the place that would make Charles Dickens furious. 'It's been allowed to happen because the kids are voiceless and their parents feel powerless. I defy anybody to see a child in need and not want to help.' The two-child limit has been long-criticised by Labour backbenchers as a driver of child poverty. Ministers are expected to set out plans to tackle child poverty at the budget in the autumn.
