Boris Johnson’s government has run out ideas and has nothing to offer millions of voters being hit by the cost of living crisis, poverty campaigners have said.
An alliance of trade unions and campaigning organisations said the government’s agenda as set out in the Queen’s Speech would do nothing for those facing the pressure of higher energy bills and rising shop prices.
Meanwhile, the boss of Tesco warned that Britain is being hit by “real food poverty” for the first time in a generation.
Christina McAnea, the head of the public sector union Unison, said the government had failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation facing families.
She said: “Families are being forced into debt and are going hungry. Nothing announced today will make a shred of difference to the millions crushed by soaring living costs. European countries have done much more to shield their citizens from surging energy bills.”
She added: ”This is a government that’s run out of ideas. Thirty-eight laws proposed but there are no answers to the biggest cost of living crisis in recent times.”
The lack of an employment bill to protect workers from low pay and fire and rehire practices was condemned by unions and charities.
Sam Nadel, Oxfam’s Head of Government Relations said: “With millions of households across the country being squeezed by the cost of living crisis, employment policies that boost the incomes of the lowest paid are more important than ever.”
“The Government needs to prioritise workers’ rights, in particular for unpaid carers and protecting women from discrimination and unfair treatment. The decision to deprioritise this legislation is frankly a dereliction of duty.”
The comments came as the boss of one of Britain’s biggest supermarket chains warned that Britain is being hit by “real food poverty” for the first time in a generation
John Allan, chairman of the supermarket giant Tesco, said more of its customers were having to rely on food banks with many of them struggling to both heat their homes and “feed their families”.
He said some customers arriving at checkouts were telling staff to “Stop when you get to £40” because they are so worried about going over their weekly budget.
Speaking to the BBC Allan backed a windfall tax on energy giants and argued for the National Insurance hike to be “rolled back”.
He said: “There is no doubt at all, people who have never had to go to a food bank are now having to do so. We are seeing real food poverty for the first time in a generation.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman rejected criticisms. The official said: “We have already acted to meet some of the challenges people face. Some 70 per cent of people will have more in their pockets as result of action we have already taken.”
The official added: “No government can address all of these global pressures we have seen. The Queen’s Speech focuses on boosting economic growth across the country so more people can have high-paying jobs in the future.”
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