A BBC survey indicates that more than one in three people are worried about being able to pay their heating bills this winter and that one in four are tolerating “unacceptably cold” homes. Higher costs had forced two-thirds to use less gas and electricity. Over two-thirds thought energy firms should be renationalised with 75 per cent saying their charges were too high. Figures were highest in the north west and the midlands.
In a separate survey the AA has found many young drivers have to take out overdrafts to pay for the rising cost of petrol, use their savings, borrow money from friends or family, resort to payday loans or even pawn some of their property.
• Five million people, more than a sixth of the workforce, now get less than the “living wage” – £8.55 in London and £7.45 an hour in the rest of Britain. This is far worse even than in 2009, when 3.4 million people got less than the “living wage”. ■