A single mum who can only afford a single meal a day for her children while avoiding using the heating because of the rising energy prices broke down in tears on the radio.
The woman, known only as Zara, said her three kids all skip breakfast and make do with a piece of fruit as they wait until their evening meal later on.
Such is her money woes, caused by Ofgem raising the price cap of electricity and gas by 54% today, she only eats their leftovers once they have finished their dinner.
Zara’s home is among the millions seeing their household bills rise as energy costs increase to £693 for the average household.
Council tax and water rates are also going up, while petrol and diesel prices are at near-record highs .
She told LBC host James O’Brien : “I turned the boiler off a long time ago, and we use hot water bottles.
"I try and feed them. We have one meal a day James, they go without breakfast, and they choose too. I try and give them fruit, bananas in the morning.
"They all say 'mum I'm fine', but it's the guilt I live with that I make sure I give them a meal... in the evening. I'll eat their leftovers James, that's the situation."
Charities said the rise will double the number of ‘fuel stress’ families struggling to pay the gas bill to 5million.
The TUC demanded an emergency budget with general secretary Frances O’Grady saying: “This is a living standards emergency. Last week’s Spring Statement was woefully inadequate.”
Parents have told Save the Children they would be giving their children shared baths and cold dinners, or even sending them to bed hungry.
Last week the Chancellor made National Insurance thresholds more generous and unveiled a temporary fuel duty cut - but neither will help the worst-paid part time workers with no car as incomes drop by the fastest since records began in the 1950s.
Also today, MPs received a £2,200 pay rise, but that still is not enough for some it seems.
Tory Kit Malthouse, who is on a £115,000 salary, complained the cost-of-living is hampering his home life too.
The North West Hampshire MP said "As you know, I've got children. They need to be fed and that cost is rising.
"My fuel prices are rising quite significantly, and I have to say that in my constituency I'm on oil central heating still, sadly."
He added: "We are feeling it very significantly."
