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A shocking new survey has revealed that two-thirds of Britons are worried about affording essentials this Christmas.
Research by Amnesty International UK and Savanta finds that 67 per cent of people are worried they will need to cut back on things like heating and food this winter. The cost of living continues to impact millions of families across the UK.
As the end of 2025 approaches, higher bills and lower temperatures mean many facing increased costs As the holiday season approaches.
Concern is particularly high among those aged 35-54, with 75 percent of this group fearing they will need to cut back on essentials.
In a blow to the government, the survey also revealed that 69 per cent of people feel the government is not doing enough to tackle the cost of living crisis.
The findings will worry Rachel Reeves ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, with the Chancellor saying yesterday that tackling the cost of living is one of the Treasury’s top priorities.
It is understood that the removal of the two-child benefit limit may be announced in the financial program to reduce child poverty. However, the IFS estimates Ms Reeves needs to raise at least £22bn to shore up the government’s coffers, meaning this could be the limit of the cost of life-focused policies.
The research highlighted by Amnesty also revealed:
- 27 percent of people are worried about not being able to heat their home this winter
- 22 percent are worried about getting into debt
- Among 35-54 year olds, one in three (30 percent) fear falling into debt
- Three quarters (75 percent) of Britons believe poverty is getting worse in Britain
Jane Clarke, Amnesty International UK’s head of economic, social and cultural rights, said: “These horrific figures lift the curtain on widespread poverty in the UK, the fear and uncertainty it causes, and how many people are going without the everyday essentials we all have a right to.
“We are often made to feel that poverty or financial insecurity is an individual failure, but when almost one in three people are worried they will not be able to heat their homes – the problem clearly lies in the systemic failures of stagnant wages, inadequate social protection and the skyrocketing prices of essentials like food, housing and energy.
“These findings are damning for the government. There is widespread agreement that they are completely out of touch and failing to address this important issue.”
Ms Clarke says a “fundamental political recalibration” is needed, with poverty alleviation being made “the key priority rather than development alone”. She says the two-child benefit cap and scrapping the benefit cap should be a “minimum” in the budget.
Despite recent price stability, the cost of living in the UK has been skyrocketing due to rising inflation in recent years.
Recent research from the Trussell Trust has revealed that 14 million adults are currently living without food Because they can’t afford it. Meanwhile, energy arrears have more than doubled over the past five years, rising to £4.4 billion at the end of June.
Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said low-income households in Britain are headed for the worst-ever decline in living standards until the next election in 2029.
A government spokesperson said: “Supporting families with the cost of living is a top priority for this government.
“That’s why we’re delivering a £1bn support package to local councils and extending the £150 Warm Home Discount to support six million vulnerable households.
“In addition we are investing £500 million in children’s development, expanding free school meals and our Child Poverty Taskforce will publish an ambitious strategy to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.”