Money expert Martin Lewis has warned people will 'get angry' about the rise in living costs, with 'civil unrest' brewing across the nation as millions continue to feel the pinch. The financial journalist, 49, said the Government must do more to help families across the UK who are struggling to make ends meet as the prices of food and fuel rise and taxes go up.
The broadcaster, who is a familiar face on our screens, regularly featuring on ITV's This Morning and Good Morning Britain, said: "We need to keep people fed. We need to keep them warm. If we get this wrong right now, then we get to the point where we start to risk civil unrest.
"When breadwinners cannot provide, anger brews and civil unrest brews – and I do not think we are very far off. I would like to see more. But this is a Conservative government."
Speaking to The Telegraph , Mr Lewis described how he is "most scared for people" across the nation. It comes after energy bills soared and the Bank of England has raised interest rates to 0.75 per cent, plunging many Brits into despair.
The Mirror reported that on top of this, annual food bills are going up by around £180 and council tax bills will go up by an average of £67 nationwide. At the same time, National Insurance costs will also rise by 1.25 percentage points. An increase by 1.25 per cent points might seem negligible, but people's contributions are actually increasing by more than 10 per cent.
And, speaking on Friday, Boris Johnson conceded the cost-of-living crisis is "only going to get worse". This is despite pressure growing on the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to do more to help people.
Gesturing at a portrait of Margaret Thatcher during an interview with GB News, Mr Johnson proclaimed: “At times of difficulty Mrs Thatcher had state spending running very, very high as a proportion of GDP because of economic difficulties that the country was in. “So something like Covid I think she would have dealt with in the exact same way."
Mr Lewis, who grew up in Withington, Manchester, said: “This is one of the richest countries in the world. It’s pretty desperate, isn’t it?” He also criticised Chancellor Rishi Sunak's decision to knock 5p off fuel duty.
The cut in fuel duty means the rate will be reduced to 52.92p for both petrol and diesel from 6pm until March next year. The current rate is 57.95p per litre. Fuel duty is included in the price drivers pay at the pumps, with VAT at 20 per cent charged on top of the total price.
