Edwina Currie, a former cabinet minister, criticised money-saving guru Martin Lewis today for calling the cost-of-living situation a “catastrophe.”
After Mr. Lewis offered Liz Truss, the front-runner for the Tory leadership, to meet with him to address the cost of living problem on his ITV programme should she be elected prime minister, the 75-year-old former Tory MP and minister replied.
As price increases pinch, he has urged the government to act quickly to provide greater assistance to suffering Britons. Last week, he used the term “catastrophe” to characterise the sharp increase in energy prices.
Martin, I’d want you to quit using language like “catastrophe,” and instead counsel people to take reasonable measures to lessen the impact on their families and companies,’ Ms. Currie shot back at the celebrity.
And stop claiming that governments are all-powerful.
They are unable.
In response, Mr. Lewis responded, “It is a calamity, Edwina,” before pointing out that, on average, energy costs in January may cost more than half the whole state pension and even more than the base payment for Universal Credit.
No rational actions address it, he continued.
Then, a feisty Ms Currie said, “Emphasize the assistance.” include regional governments, like in Germany. Give folks something to do so they won’t simply sit around moaning.
It becomes simpler for individuals who can’t minimise use the more others who can do so do so. Each little bit counts. Governments cannot solve every problem, therefore no.
This comes after Mr. Lewis said last week on the Today Program on BBC Radio 4 that he had been accused of catastrophizing.
“This is a catastrophe, which is why I’ve been catastrophizing.”
“It’s incredible that we let this news be made…
and yet no assistance has been publicised. It’s disastrous.
According to information released last week, the relaxation of the energy price restriction would cause the typical household’s annual bill to increase from £1,971 to £3,549 in October.
Families are also suffering at the stores as a result of inflation driving up the cost of everyday necessities.
According to new data released today, consumers are spending up to 20% more for pantry essentials like butter, milk, and spaghetti than they were a year ago.
A four-pint milk carton now costs, on average, 34p more than it did a year ago, according to MailOnline.
Since August of last year, the price of a typical 500g bag of own-brand spaghetti has increased by 33p, from 52p to 85p, while a 500g pack of Lurpak is now 63p more costly, going from £3.58 to £4.21 this year.
Customers will now pay, on average, £1.20 for a single 450g can, an increase of more than 37p in a year.
Some stores are even charging £1.45 for a 415g can of the well-known pantry essential, infuriating consumers who have accused stores of “taking the p**.”
Additionally, according to MailOnline’s investigation, the typical 20-item shopping basket now costs £5.20 more than it did a year ago, with Tesco and Morrisons customers seeing some of the greatest price increases.
In the meanwhile, US firm Goldman Sachs has estimated that inflation might reach 22.4% in 2013.