Get onboard to help cost of living crisis
IDO not always agree with national newspapers as to what they have as their main story. However, I will concur with their choice to lead with forecasts that the UK inflation rate is now expected to rise to 11 per cent.
For rising prices hit everyone regardless of how affluent they are. And while I’d only shed crocodile tears for the rich, a reduction in spending by them will impact on those who sell and make the goods they purchase.
The usual reasons are trotted out as to why we are back to 1970s-style price rises – Brexit, Covid and now Ukraine. Yet the fact is that the Bank of England has long had an inflation target of just 2 per cent, which will be exceeded by more than five-fold.
So, isn’t someone going to take responsibility and fall on their sword? I very much doubt it, as the Prime Minister is setting the example these days of carrying on regardless of personal and political failings.
In the meantime, pensioners and others have seen benefits go up by just over 3 per cent, while unions get demonised for simply wanting a wage increase for their members that won’t lead to a reduction in their standard of living.
Now tucked away on the financial pages was a most interesting report referring to Australia. Here from July 1, the Minimum Wage will rise to the equivalent of £12.27 an hour, or more than £25,000. Yet in this country the rate is less than £10, while Stagecoach in their on-bus advertising boast that starting bus drivers can earn £21,900.
So, if the Government wants to help lower-paid workers, I suggest that they follow the Australian example and sharply boost what they call the National Living Wage.
And perhaps the millionaires who run Stagecoach could increase the money they pay staff to stop the driver shortage that is still causing chaos on the buses.
Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.