Protests in London over cost of living crisis

Tens of thousands of Britons are set to protest in London today (18) in protest over the government’s handling of the cost of living crisis.

Demonstration, organised by Trades Union Congress (TUC), will call on government to make “better deal” for people struggling to cope with soaring inflation. The protest march will start at midday from Portland Place to Parliament Square.

Pointing out that workers suffering the “longest and harshest” squeeze on earnings in modern history, Frances O’Grady, TUC  general secretary, said that prices are skyrocketing, yet boardroom bonuses are back to bumper levels.

“Everyone who works for a living deserves to earn a decent living, but UK workers are suffering the longest and harshest squeeze on their earnings in modern history.

“If we don’t get pay rising across the economy, we will just keep lurching from crisis to crisis. This cost of living emergency has not come out of the blue. It is the result of more than a decade of standstill wages,” O’Grady said.

He further added that it was “gut wrenching” to hear how workers were struggling, with no safety net to fall back on and the pay slump showing little sign of slowing.

It comes a day after it a new survey revealed that more than eight in 10 people (81 percent) are worried about the rising cost of living as the cost of domestic energy, petrol, and food have all increased significantly in recent months.

In the latest results, two thirds (66 percent) of those with worries said this was having a negative effect on their mental health. Nearly half (45 percent) said their physical health had been affected.