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Boris Johnson has admitted “we need to do more” to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, as Rishi Sunak’s spring statement faces intense criticism for not going far enough to help Britain’s poorest families.
Speaking less than 24 hours after Mr Sunak unveiled his mini-budget in the Commons, the prime minister said the cost-of-living crunch “is the single biggest thing we’re having to fix”.
He insisted the chancellor had done a “huge amount to address the increase in cost of living”, citing the announcement on cutting the national insurance contribution threshold.
However, he told LBC: “Yes… as we go forward, we need to do more.”
His comments came as a thinktank warned that the lack of support announced in the statement for low-income families leaves more than one million Britons on the verge of “absolute poverty”.
The Resolution Foundation, a living standards think tank, warned Mr Sunak’s measures represented a “big but poorly targeted policy package” which does not do enough to aid the families who have been hit the hardest by the cost-of-living crisis.
Recommended Spring statement: What does Rishi Sunak’s mini-budget mean for your finances? ‘The up yours mini budget’: Newspapers savage Rishi Sunak’s spring statement Sunak warns of ‘challenging and uncertain times’ ahead
Key Points Sunak statement criticised for not helping poorest families Tax burden highest since post-war era Fuel duty cut by 5p and NI threshold raised by ￡3,000 Britons facing biggest drop in living standards since records began
Show latest update 1648125081 P&O Ferries intentionally broke law over mass sackings, CEO admits
The chief executive of P&O Ferries has admitted his firm broke the law by sacking 800 employees without consultation.
Peter Hebblethwaite told MPs on Thursday there was “absolutely no doubt” the company should have spoken to unions first.
My colleague Zoe Tidman has the full story:
P&O chief admits firm intentionally broke law over mass sacking of 800 workers ‘We chose not to consult and we are - and will - compensate everybody in full for that,’ ferry company boss says
Rory Sullivan 24 March 2022 12:31
1648124491 People will be worse off despite Sunak’s measures, says IFS
The measures set out by chancellor Rishi Sunak will not be enough to stop people becoming worse off, the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said.
Speaking the day after the Spring Statement, Paul Johnson said: “It looks like a median earner on around ￡27,500 a year will be about ￡360 worse off in the next financial year than in the current year.”
“Someone earning around ￡40,000 will be getting on for ￡800 worse off.”
“He had tough decisions to make. Other choices were available,” the IFS boss added.
Rory Sullivan 24 March 2022 12:21
1648123664 Rishi Sunak boasts he has ‘whole range of breads’ in his house when quizzed about surging prices
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said his family has a “whole range of breads” at home as he was quizzed on surging bills bringing Britain’s worst fall in living standards since the 1950s.
My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:
Rishi Sunak boasts he has ‘whole range of breads’ in his house when quizzed on prices The chancellor has faced backlash following his ‘out of touch’ remarks
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 12:07
1648122288 Watch: Boris Johnson awkwardly stands alone ahead of Nato family photo
Video shows Boris Johnson standing awkwardly alone ahead of a photo call at today’s Nato summit.
The prime minister meets with other leaders, including US president Joe Biden, to discuss the alliance’s response to the Ukraine war.
Earlier this week he was criticised by leaders in Europe for comparing Brexit to the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom.
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Boris Johnson awkwardly stands alone ahead of Nato family photo
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 11:44
1648121070 Sturgeon: Ukrainian orphans will find ‘love, care and support’ in Scotland
A group of Ukrainian orphans will find "love, care and support" in Scotland after fleeing the war in their homeland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Ms Sturgeon welcomed the 54 children and young people, who have been taken out of Ukraine by the charity, Dnipro Kids.
They arrived in Scotland in the early hours of Thursday morning, after their plane left Poland on Wednesday evening.
It had been hoped to bring the youngsters and their orphanage carers to the UK on Monday, but problems with paperwork meant the journey was delayed.
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 11:24
1648119956 No 10 announces Queen’s speech will take place on 10 May
No 10 has announced the Queen’s speech — setting out the government’s agenda — will take place on 10 May.
Downing Street said it will set out Mr Johnson’s plans to “grow our economy, cut the cost of living, make our streets safer and clear the Covid backlogs”.’
Mark Spencer, the leader of the Commons, told MPs in a written statement: “As is usual, the current session of Parliament will be prorogued ahead of the Queen’s Speech and this time will be used to enable logistical and security preparations for the State Opening of Parliament.
“The likely date of prorogation will be confirmed in due course.”The event will take place just weeks before four days of celebrations - from June 2-5 - to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.”
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 11:05
1648119056 Watch: Rishi Sunak denies family profiting from Putin’s regime in awkward interview
Rishi Sunak has denied his family is profiting from Vladimir Putin’s regime in an awkward interview about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The chancellor was asked about reports of “family links” to Russia, which has been hit by sanctions over the war it is waging in eastern Europe.
Watch more comments from Sunak below:
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Rishi Sunak denies family profiting from Putin’s regime
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 10:50
1648118249 Martin Lewis works out which salaries will benefit from Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has calculated which salaries would be affected by the chancellor’s spring statement announced yesterday.
In a video posted on social media, the personal finance expert talked viewers through the direct impacts of Rishi Sunak’s decision to increase the threshold at which workers start paying national insurance.
My colleague Holly Bancroft reports:
Martin Lewis works out which salaries will benefit from Sunak’s Spring Statement People earning over ￡35,000 will feel the pinch of higher national insurance contributions in April
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 10:37
1648117384 Breaking: ‘Illusionist’ Sunak has not done enough to protect poor from living standards hit, thinktank warns
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been branded a “fiscal illusionist” by a respected economic thinkthank, which found his tax cuts in Wednesday’s mini-budget “will not be enough to protect poorer households from a significant hit to their living standards”.
Andrew Woodcock, our politics editor and Anna Isaac, our economics editor, will have more details on this story as they come:
Illusionist Sunak ‘has not done enough to protect poor from living standards hit’ Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been branded a “fiscal illusionist” by a respected economic thinkthank, which found his tax cuts in Wednesday’s mini-budget “will not be enough to protect poorer households from a significant hit to their living standards”.
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 10:23
1648116662 Johnson admits ‘we need to do more’ to tackle cost-of-living crisis
Boris Johnson has admitted “we need to do more” to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, as Rishi Sunak’s spring statement faces intense criticism for not going far enough.
The Office for Budget Responsibility – the spending watchdog – said last night that Britons are set for the biggest fall in living standards in a single financial year since records began in 1956.
Our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the story:
Boris Johnson admits ‘we need to do more’ to tackle cost-of-living crisis PM’s comment follows intense criticism of Rishi Sunak’s spring statement for not going far enough
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 10:11
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