‘Cruel’ freeze on funeral aid

A GRANT giving the poor help with funeral costs has been frozen at £700 for 15 years, while the cost of a basic funeral is now £4,078.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has called for the cap to be lifted. She said: “This cruel funeral fund freeze heaps financial pressure on families.”

Heather Kennedy, of the Fair Funerals campaign, said: “It is pushing people into crippling poverty.”