One in ten adults, according to the survey commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, intends to take out a loan to pay their gas and electricity bills.
A report shows that millions of individuals in the United Kingdom will not turn on their heating this winter due to increased energy costs.
The survey, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, revealed that 23% of adults intend to make this radical change, with that number climbing to 27% for those with children at home.
23% would be forced to use credit cards to pay their expenditures, rising to 33% for parents, while 10% will take out a loan to cover the increased expenses.
Following Ofgem’s decision on Friday that the energy price cap would increase by 80% in October, the average household will pay £3,549 annually for gas and electricity.
Downing Street insists the new prime minister must determine what actions to take in response to mounting demand on the government to provide additional aid to help people and companies weather the cost-of-living crisis.
A week remains until the result of the Conservative leadership battle is declared, and neither Liz Truss nor Rishi Sunak has provided specifics on how they want to combat rising costs if they win the race for Number 10.
Yesterday, it was reported that Ms. Truss, who is the frontrunner in the race and has previously rejected the notion of handing people “handouts,” intends to reduce VAT from 20% to 15%, in addition to her commitments to reverse the National Insurance increase and halt green charges.
However, sources within her staff have sent inconsistent signals as to whether she would approve direct support for households or targeted support for the least fortunate.
Mr. Sunak’s team criticized the rumored VAT cut as expensive and “very regressive,” with the former chancellor stating that assistance with heating expenses should be targeted at low-income households and retirees, via welfare and winter fuel subsidies.
“Lacking in action”
Victoria Prentis, the environment minister and a supporter of Mr. Sunak, told that the government acknowledged the price increase was “terrifying,” but insisted that work was being done behind the scenes.
“The message from the government is that, yeah, I am aware that this has been difficult during the leadership contest, but there will be a strategy to support people through the heating challenges they will face this winter,” she said.
James Murray, the shadow Treasury secretary for the Labour Party, stated that the public was “calling out” for immediate action.
He stated: “Currently, this is what is lacking in politics; the government is absent from the scene.
“Throughout the summer, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak said nothing that adequately addresses the magnitude of the challenge people will face during the winter, and we need a plan to help them survive the winter.”
‘National scandal’
The Liberal Democrats, Labour, and the SNP have all demanded a freeze on the price cap and more assistance for the poorest households.
Christine Jardine, a Lib Dem representative and spokesman, stated that people may be forced to make “heartbreaking decisions” this winter, such as turning off the heat, since the government has “failed to save them.”
She went on: “The fact that parents must choose between heating their houses and feeding their children is a national scandal. This shouldn’t be the case.
“Britain is on the verge of the worst cost of living catastrophe in a century, yet Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak refuse to cancel the energy price increase. October must not be permitted to see a spike in energy prices.”
However, a government spokeswoman stated that it’s £37bn package of aid for households would continue to provide direct support to those who need it most, including low-income households, pensioners, and people with disabilities, over the coming weeks and months.
“The Civil Service is also making the necessary preparations to ensure that any further support or cost-of-living commitments can be delivered as swiftly as possible once the new prime minister is in place,” they added.
Labour also proposes a scheme to insulate 19 million houses across the United Kingdom to reduce utility expenses.
The party asserts that the number of homes that have been insulated is at its lowest level in four years, and places the responsibility firmly on Number 10.
Kerry McCarthy, the shadow minister for climate change, stated: “People are afraid of what this will mean for their energy bills this winter as the energy price cap has just reached record heights.
“The government should have worked nonstop to insulate homes and ensure as many households as possible enjoy decreased utility costs. Its reluctance to do so, despite repeated warnings, threatens to leave millions of people out in the cold.”
Make energy efficiency a “primary concern”
Mike Childs, head of the strategy at Friends of the Earth, shared this worry, urging the next prime minister to make energy efficiency a “top priority.”
He said: “The shockingly low degree of insulation in British homes demonstrates that the government has not taken this matter seriously.
“This winter, millions of households will pay sky-high heating bills for heat that will escape via roofs, walls, and draughty windows.
“The next prime minister must make energy efficiency a key priority and commit to sponsoring a free, neighborhood-by-neighborhood home insulation program that targets those in most need.”
A representative for the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy stated that the government was investing £6.6 billion to enhance energy efficiency across the UK, with the majority of funding going to low-income and vulnerable households.
He added: “In 2010, only 14% of homes had a rating of C or higher for energy efficiency. Since then, this percentage has increased dramatically to 46% and is climbing.
This is saving tens of thousands of households an average of £300 per year on their energy expenses.
A YouGov survey commissioned by The Times found that nearly half of Tory voters supported renationalizing the energy sector.
According to the survey, 47% supported the notion, with support jumping to 53% in historic Red Wall constituencies in the North East and Midlands.
Only 13% of Tory voters had faith in Ms. Truss to bring down record-high inflation, compared to 21% for Mr. Sunak and 31% for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, making for difficult reading for Ms. Truss.
