29% of households in Yorkshire and Humberside felt financial difficulty before energy price hike hit

Labour reveals new analysis showing that 29% of households in Yorkshire and Humberside experienced financial difficulty over the last year, well before energy prices went up in October. The figures, based on an analysis of the Bank of England’s household survey data from September 2021 to September 2022, also show how 1 in 10 households said they were already falling behind on bills before the price hike and reveals that areas outside of London were hardest hit. It comes as concerns about the state of the UK economy continue to grow. 12 years of Tory policy choices have weakened Britain’s economic foundations even before the government crashed the economy and left working people paying the price with higher mortgages and prices. The UK is set to experience the highest inflation in the G7 this year. Labour have said their plans to grow the economy won’t just get money flowing back into it but also create good jobs and more wealth across all parts of the UK. Commenting on the figures, Simon Lightwood, Labour MP for Wakefield, said: “We can all see how the Tory cost of living crisis is really hurting families in Wakefield, Horbury and Ossett. “Labour’s plans to create good, new jobs across the country, through our Green Prosperity Plan and an active partnership with business will get it our economy growing so we can raise living standards. “The cost-of-living crisis has been biting for far too long and not only have the Tories refuse to come forward with long term plans for our economy, they’ve made it worse and left working people paying the price. “This Government says it is on the side of working people and families, yet it continues to double down on decisions that will ruin lives. They have crashed the economy and left people in Wakefield, Horbury and Ossett with the consequences. “The people of Wakefield, Horbury and Ossett deserve better. They deserve a Labour Government.”