The UK Government is being urged to target its resources on the households that need help most, as experts warn the remaining years of the 2020s could prove even more challenging than the aftermath of the 2008 banking crash.
Chancellor John Healey warns in today's Daily Record that he simply "can't remove all the pressures" facing the UK economy. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, soaring energy costs and sluggish wage growth are all blamed for the difficult outlook.
Household incomes set to fall
It is estimated that typical working-age households will see disposable income fall by £1,050, or three per cent, by 2029. The sluggish UK economy, low wage growth and stubborn inflation are all hammering domestic budgets.
The situation is not of the UK Government's making, despite repeated claims to the contrary by the SNP. Donald Trump's war against Iran has achieved nothing other than misery for the Iranian people and economic downturn around the world, it is argued.
It would be in everyone's interests if the US President is somehow convinced to step back from escalating a conflict which has already forced up the cost of oil and, by extension, energy bills.
Targeted support needed
Healey must hope for peace in Europe and the Middle East, but he has been around long enough to know things might get worse before they get better. It is therefore vital the UK Government targets its scant resources on help for households that need it most.
A £100 payment for energy costs in the budget is welcome but doesn't go far enough. If winter sees continuing rises in the cost of living, Healey and the Labour Government will need to come up with a plan to make us feel better off.
Prison overcrowding concerns
News of rioting in Polmont prison – where many young criminals are housed – raises serious concerns. Overcrowding is the root cause of much of the disorder in prisons, making running jails difficult and dangerous for staff, with knock-on effects in the wider community.
If prisoners spend too much time stuck in their cells, they can't take part in classes or groups which can help them see the error of their ways. And if cons – especially under 25s – are not getting the help they need, it is more likely that they will offend again. If overcrowded prisons fail to rehabilitate offenders, we all lose out.
