By Dantes Odogwu
The previous two years have been tremendously difficult for Brits, who have faced catastrophic situations ranging from Brexit to the Covid outbreak to the current Russia /Ukraine conflict.
Brits are confronted with rising inequality, a cost-of-living issue for the majority, and an economy that benefits only a select few. The link between the country’s wealth and the lives of the British people has been severed.
Here in London, the ever-increasing cost of living is playing havoc on residents, and the government’s constant cuts are just exacerbating the problem.
Matt Andy, 54, works at The London Bridge Experience and said: “I am getting furious about this price crisis in London. There should be national outrage regarding this cost of living and fuel price crisis.
“We should be on the streets en masse demanding this inactive government to get out.
“Boris Johnson is a depraved individual who should be expelled from Downing Street. He cannot stand by and watch while thousands of people go hungry while he sits in his opulent mansions.”
Struggling to stay afloat
Residents of London are struggling to stay afloat, and tens of thousands of individuals could risk eviction if they do not receive immediate assistance.
The hardest hit is the poorest. Many of them are left without access to basics like food, fuel, electricity, and a means to earn a decent livelihood.
People are hurting, the cost of food and fuel is out of control and there is are little plans to address it. More people have fallen into poverty and there is not enough support.
“We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world and people are having to decide whether to keep warm or to eat,” Andy said.
“It is scandalous. We need to start protesting in mass numbers and get our voices heard, or else nothing will change.
“I am only here to avoid feeling down at home. Charity is becoming the only way for Londoners to survive; I am paid for doing nothing in the shop.”
Reggie Alex, a fruit seller at East Street market, London added. “This country relies too much on charities to fill the void where government should take responsibility. Charity used to be as a way of providing extra services, not replacing essential services and needs.”
The cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by Tory policies, is causing terrible hardship to London businesses. High street shops are closing daily and some of the workers are rendered jobless as a result.
The owner of East End cosmetics, Umar Seid, 64, said: “The majority of political office holders are empty, just balloons inflated by journalists.
“Boris Johnson is overrated. That man has brought untold hardship to citizens with his ineptitude. We have been through a lot in the last few years.
“The pandemic and Brexit changed life as we know it and have brought a drastic decline in businesses across London and now heightened by Boris Johnson’s cluelessness. Just look at my shop and see how empty it is.
“Brexit, Covid, and the Russian/Ukraine have affected both our deliveries and sales. I am struggling to renew my rent and with the way things are right now, we might be forced to shut down.”
Inflation expected to reach 10 percent
Bills have risen in recent weeks, as have food expenses, with inflation anticipated to reach 10% in the coming months because of rising prices.
Many say that the Conservative party believe the cost-of-living crisis is our own fault. In fact, a UK government minister remarked last week that people should work longer hours or acquire a better-paying job.
Rachel Maclean, the safeguarding minister, told Sky News that those were some of the ways households could “protect themselves” as prices soar.
“Over the long term we need to have a plan to grow the economy and make sure that people are able to protect themselves better – whether that is by taking on more hours or moving to a better-paid job and these are long term actions but that’s what we’re focused on as a government.”
She added that every minister was looking at the issue as consumers face “short term pressures” such as high energy and food bills – and added that there was “more help coming”.
After MacLean stated that the government had “already taken action to help people with energy costs and there’s more support coming”, Labour argued her views were “disconnected from the realities of people’s life”‘
Worry amongst Londoners
The impact of the city’s rising cost of living is causing great worry among Londoners. It cannot be right that millions of people live in poverty in a city as affluent London, with so many people just scraping by each month.
“Nearly 80 percent of Londoners have seen an increase in their cost of living over the last six months, with food and energy bills leading the rise in costs,” according to the report by City Hall and new polling by YouGov.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the Government to take urgent steps to tackle the spiralling cost of living
“34 percent of Londoners have struggled to pay their household bills in the last six months, with 13 percent struggling to make ends meet, going without essentials, or relying on credit,” he said in a press release.
“More than 70 percent of Londoners are worried about future increases to living costs over the next year.”
The cost-of-living crisis has affected many families across the country in recent months, forcing parents to make sacrifices to provide for their children.
Sophia Ekpenisi, a mother of four said: “Life in London is becoming intolerable. I am having a challenging time supporting my family. After being laid off during the pandemic, my husband returned to Nigeria.
“I have to skip meals to feed my children, and help is nowhere to be found; if things continue to go badly for us, I may return to Nigeria with my children.”
Lack of government assistance
The lack of significant government assistance with the cost-of-living crisis combined with real terms support cuts have placed many disabled people in a dire situation, unable to pay rocketing energy bills.
According to the disability charity Scope, life is on average £583 more expensive a month for disabled people. Around 900,000 people with disabilities are thought to be in fuel poverty- are fears the number could rise to 2.1 in the autumn.
Before millions of people are pushed into poverty and debt, the government must act quickly to increase support for those who are most in need.
According to CGTN Europe, UK inflation hits a 40-year high as the cost-of-living crisis spirals, higher than most of Europe’s big economies. Consumer costs in Britain have shot up to 9% – its highest yearly rate since 1982. That has put huge pressure on the government to mirror their European neighbours and offer more help to struggling households.
According to Mohammed Sadeh, a furniture seller in Peckham, the Tory administration is managed by – and for – the super-rich.
“I still don’t understand why the government is neglecting the cost-of-living crisis. Importing items from China used to cost £8,000 pounds, but it now costs £20,000.
“Why haven’t Conservative MPs taken action to address the rising cost of living? Businesses suffer rather than families.”
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