Black households will be bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis this winter as they are more than five times more likely to be struggling with their energy bills, Labour has claimed. An analysis by Labour of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data found that over two thirds of black adults (69%) are finding it difficult to afford their energy bills, compared with under half of all adults (45%).
It said one in five black adults (21%) are saying they are behind on payments, compared with 5% of all adults. The analysis also found that half (52%) of black adults reported finding it difficult to afford their rent or mortgage compared to under a third (30%) of all adults, with 9% of black adults being behind on their payments, compared to 3% of all adults.
Shadow women and equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds accused the Conservatives of failing to "get a grip" on the cost-of-living crisis, insisting Labour has a "long-term plan" to tackle the "structural racism that scars our society". She said her party would put forward "common-sense policies" such as insulating homes and would help with the cost of broadband and childcare.
Ms Dodds said: "The Conservatives crashed the economy and as usual they have failed to take responsibility for fixing it. The mental and physical toll put on people unable to heat their homes or keep a roof over their head is staggering - and it's particularly intense for black families."
She went on: "Labour has a long-term plan to tackle the structural racism that scars our society and leaves black, Asian and minority ethnic people worse off, through our Race Equality Act. And while the Conservatives fail to get a grip on this acute winter crisis we have practical, common-sense policies to help people with the cost of living, including by insulating homes and helping with the cost of childcare and broadband."
The Runnymede Trust found earlier this year that black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately falling faster and further below the poverty line amidst the cost-of-living crisis. The race equality think tank reported black and minority ethnic people are 2.5 times more likely to be in relative poverty, and 2.2 times more likely to be in deep poverty than their white counterparts.
