The price of energy bills is once again set to be an issue for millions this winter as the cost of living crisis continues to have an impact.

Although the energy price cap now stands at £1,923, a fall from its level of £2,074 in July, bills are set to remain high given that this year there is no discount being given by the Government – as there was for six months in 2022 and early 2023.

Many of us will of course continue to seek help from the Government in the form of benefits, and the second cost of living payment – due to be arriving in eligible people’s accounts in the coming weeks.

But many energy companies are also offering help to customers in need this winter – in the shape of a payment known as the Warm Home Discount.

What is the discount and is your energy supplier among those taking part?

What is the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a government-run plan to cut costs on energy bills by £150 over the Winter of 2022 to 2023.

The scheme does not pay money directly to an individual. It is instead operated as a one-off discount on electricity bills between October 2023 and early 2024.

The scheme is due to open again on Monday October 16.

Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

If you live in England or Wales, Gov.UK lists two criteria to meet in order to qualify for the warm home discount:

• you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• you are on a low income and have high energy costs

If you live in Scotland, the above criteria also apply, but you can also qualify by meeting your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.

The scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier gives you both and you are eligible.

You should also receive the discount if you are on a pre-pay or top-up meter – for example in the form of a voucher.

You should speak to your supplier directly in both cases.

Which suppliers participate in the Warm Home Discount?

If you are with one of the following you should receive the discount if you ae eligible:

• 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
• Affect Energy
• Atlantic
• Boost
• British Gas
• Bulb Energy
• Co-op Energy
• E
• Ecotricity
• E.ON Next
• EDF
• Good Energy
• London Power

• Octopus Energy
• Outfox the Market
• OVO
• Rebel Energy
• Sainsbury’s Energy
• Scottish Gas
• Scottish Hydro
• ScottishPower
• Shell Energy Retail
• So Energy
• Southern Electric
• SSE Energy Services
• Swalec
• Tomato Energy
• TruEnergy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse

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With the cost of living crisis continuing to engulf the country, millions of people will still struggle to make ends meet on basics as the colder months approach.

Many of us will of course continue to seek help from the Government in the form of benefits – including the second cost of living payment, due to be paid out in the coming weeks.

But for those in a certain age group, there’s a glimmer of good news on the horizon.

That’s because hundreds of thousands of teenagers born between certain dates could be sitting on a Government-backed nest egg they have no idea about – one which could even be worth around £2,000.

It’s all because of something known as Child Trust Fund vouchers – but who is eligible to receive them?

Here’s what you need to know…

What are Child Trust Fund vouchers?

Child Trust Fund vouchers are part of a savings scheme which the Government offered to new parents from 2002 until 2011.

The long-term tax-free accounts were started up with £250 from the Government when a child was born, with another £250 being paid when they turned seven.

Those on lower-income families were given payments of £500.

Parents were also able to top up the sum in the account to a maximum of £9,000.

All of which means the funds in the account could have grown quite a bit depending on how they were invested – with HMRC estimating the average account would be worth around £2,000.

But while over five million of these accounts were opened, they also have said a fair number have been forgotten about – with one financial firm, Hargreaves Lansdown, estimating that as many as one in six young people don’t know the account exists.

Who is eligible for a Child Trust Fund account?

If you were born between September 1 2002 and January 2 2011 you were eligible for a Child Trust Fund account.

You can take control of the account yourself once you are 16, but account holders cannot withdraw the money until they turn 18.

The account is tax-free and will not affect any benefits or tax credits you may receive.

If you think you may have a Child Trust Fund account but are uncertain of the details, you can contact the account provider directly – if you don’t know who they are you can either ask your parents or contact HMRC for details of when the account was opened.

You can ask HMRC to find a Child Trust Fund if you’re:

• a parent or guardian of a child under 18
• 16 or over and looking for your own trust fund

You can either do this online or request the details by post – for more information visit the Child Trust Fund section of the Government’s website.

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With the cost of living crisis showing no signs of abating, we’re all still on the lookout for ways to make our money go further – and Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis is often on hand to help.

With Christmas creeping closer, the money guru has highlighted a way Tesco shoppers can nab themselves some bonus cash ahead of the festive season, via the Clubcard Christmas Saver program.

However, time is running out to claim your cash – if you don’t claim it by the middle of this month you could miss out.

How can you qualify for the cash bonus – and when do you need to claim it?

Here’s what you need to know…

How to get a cash bonus on your Tesco shop with Clubcard Christmas Saver

As pointed out in the Money Saving Expert newsletter, you can nab yourself a cash bonus if you’re a Tesco shopper by signing up for the Clubcard Christmas Saver program.

This scheme offers a 6% bonus on the amount you save – which will be given to you in the form of a voucher.

So, for example, if you paid in £200 across the year, you’d bag yourself an extra £12 to spend on festive goodies.

As a new member of Tesco Clubcard, you have the option to join the scheme. If you’re already a member, you can also opt in online by going to the ‘voucher schemes’ section.

You can add money to your account by visiting customer service desks in large Tesco stores or the central checkout in Tesco Express stores, and your bonus will be provided in the form of vouchers.

When is the deadline to sign up?

You’ll need to opt in and pay into the scheme before October 18 to receive your vouchers in November. This will take the form of vouchers for the money you paid into your account, and separate vouchers for your bonus.

It’s also worth remembering that while Clubcard vouchers and top-up vouchers are valid for two years – bonus vouchers are only valid for two months, so make sure you spend them in that time.

The amount you’ll get will also vary depending on how much you pay into the scheme.

This is what you can expect to receive:

• £1.50 bonus when you save between £25 and £49.50
• £3 bonus when you save between £50 and £99.50
• £6 bonus when you save between £100 and £199.50
• £12 bonus when you save £200 to £360

You can spend your vouchers either in a Tesco store, online or on petrol.

However, you cannot use them with Clubcard partners.

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CCTV footage shows the moment a thief wearing a Halloween panda mask broke into and stole from a foodbank set up by a schoolboy.

Isaac Winfield was left heartbroken after the crook targeted his garden shed just days before his birthday last Monday.

The intruder was captured on security cameras prowling around the family property in Redditch, Worcestershire, wearing a black and white panda mask.

He stole £40 worth of food leaving the shelves bare and the kind-hearted boy devastated.

The youngster previously won the heart of the nation when he used his birthday money to launch his first foodbank during the pandemic.

Isaac gathered donations of food and toiletries from local businesses and well-wishers which he then handed out to those in need of extra support.

He started his ‘Friend’s of Isaac’s Food Bank’ group on Facebook which went viral and now helps hundreds of families every week.

He has since successfully opened three more foodbanks in his hometown, but his mother says the latest theft has left him ‘crushed’.

His mum, Claire Chapman, 43, said: ‘When I realised what had happened, I dropped everything.

‘When I first looked at the CCTV, I thought it was Mickey Mouse in the shed, but when he turned around, it was this grotesque and creepy panda Halloween mask.

‘Isaac is absolutely crushed. It was his 12th birthday on Wednesday and all he asked for was a van full of food so he could continue giving back to the community.

‘We spread the word on social media, and we’ve had donations from all over the world, so he was really excited.

‘It’s just so wicked that someone could do this.’

Claire said the CCTV showed the thief making two trips into the shed filling up bags of food and hanging around the family home for around 40 minutes.

She added: ‘This was an invasion of my home that’s left me feeling so vulnerable especially as Isaac could have woken up in the middle of the night and seen this scary man walking around the house.’

The youngster, who was born with a rare chromosome disorder, started the foodbank after learning that his new school didn’t accept food donations.

Claire said: ‘Isaac is an incredible boy who has overcome so much so to see this happen is just heartbreaking.

‘He has made 4,000 food parcels already this year and the work the food bank does is so vital for the community.

‘We work with families who spend each day counting the pennies.

‘We’re a lifeline and this will have a long-term impact as it will set us back in terms of opening more sites for the community.’

The incident comes after another shed owned by Friends of Isaac’s Food Bank at Moons Moat was also broken into between last Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Isaac said: ‘This man came into my foodbank and robbed it. He was wearing a scary panda mask. We had CCTV and my mum phoned the police.

‘I’m spending all my money for my fifth food bank on alarms for the rest of the foodbanks.’

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: ‘We received a report around 5.55pm on Monday evening (2 October) about a burglary at Greenlands Foodbank on Throckmorton Road in Redditch.

‘Officers attended the property to find food items had been taken.

‘Officers are now investigating and anybody with any information is asked to contact PC Merritt by email ricky.merritt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk or by calling 07890390745.’

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With the cost of living crisis continuing to engulf the country, millions of people are still struggling to make ends meet on basics such as food, heating and other essentials.

Which means many of us are continuing to seek help from the Government in the form of benefits – not to mention the second £300 cost of living payment due to be sent out in the coming weeks.

However, the rules on claiming are slightly different for those people who have reached State Pension age.

Currently, the age at which you can claim your state pension is 66, following the last increase in October 2020, when the age rose from 65 – although this is due to rise to 67 and then 68 in coming years.

Once you hit that age it affects the benefits you’re eligible for from the DWP – but what can you still claim and what are you no longer able to?

Here’s what you need to know…

Which benefits can you no longer claim after reaching state pension age?

Once you reach state pension age you can no longer claim the following:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Bereavement Support Payment
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance

You also cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment – a new benefit for eligible people in Scotland.

However, if you already claim any of the above you can continue to do so once you reach state pension age, as long as you still have the conditions you are claiming for and your last claim was less than 12 months ago.

What benefits can you still claim at state pension age?

You can still continue to claim the following:

• Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)
• Carer’s Allowance – you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State Pension
• Guardian’s Allowance
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You can also claim the following, if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold:

• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Support for Mortgage Interest
• Working Tax Credit (HMRC) – you can’t make new claims for this, but if you’re already getting it you can carry on receiving it
• Child Tax Credit (HMRC)- you can’t make new claims for this, but if you’re already getting it you can carry on receiving it
• Help with Health Costs
• Cold Weather Payment – now replaced by new £50 payment in Scotland
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Winter Fuel Payment

Can you claim Universal Credit over state pension age?

If you live with your partner and only one of you has reached state pension age, the Government website states that you can still claim for Universal Credit – how much you get will depend on your income and savings, and that of your partner’s.

However, if you’re getting Pension Credit in addition to your state pension, it will stop if either one of you make a claim for Universal Credit.

It’s likely you will be better off on Pension Credit – check at the Government’s website what you might be entitled to.

How much is the state pension?

The full new state pension is £203.85 per week.

The full basic state pension is £156.20 per week.

To get the basic state pension, you must be either a:

• man born before 6 April 1951
• woman born before 6 April 1953

Anyone born after this date (who is of state pension age) will get the full new state pension.

In order to be eligible for the state pension, you will need to meet certain criteria, including having paid at least 30 years of National Insurance contributions.

If you have less than 30 qualifying years your state pension might be below the basic rate – but you might be able to top it up by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.

However, under the new rules, the government website states that if ‘you did not make National Insurance contributions or get National Insurance credits before 6 April 2016, your State Pension will be calculated entirely under the new State Pension rules.’

MORE : Millions set for DWP Christmas bonus payment – check the list to see if you qualify

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Hauling three large laundry bags into an Uber in August, I sat in silence as I contemplated whether this was one of my more stupid ideas.

I didn’t know that I was about to take my first steps in developing a lucrative side hustle.

It all started when I realised I’d become unhappy with my style.

Where detailed vintage beading, embellishment and silk once suited me, I now preferred a cleaner, more tailored look.

That meant I had a lot of beautiful clothes, but I just didn’t wear them enough. And despite my best efforts to sell them on Depop and Vinted, they weren’t shifting.

So I decided to change tack and set up a stall at Hackney Flea Market, one of my favourite places to buy vintage.

But as I looked around at everyone’s perfectly curated vintage wares, imposter syndrome set in. Was my stuff actually any good? I wondered whether it would be obvious that I was indeed selling the pre-loved clothes from my own wardrobe and that I was not in the business of clothing resale.

When I was younger and experimenting with my fashion, I had been more inclined to make quick purchases that I later regretted. The impact that fast fashion has on the environment is devastating and also having to store lots of clothes I don’t wear made me feel ashamed of overconsuming.

So I started shopping second hand as a way to find more unique pieces no one else had – and I also found items to be so much cheaper.

I found original 70s pieces like jumpsuits for a tenner at a car boot or a genuine Burberry coat for £40, leather jackets or vintage New Rock boots. In fact, pretty much my whole wardrobe became filled with second hand or vintage items.

But as I got older and my shape changed, my clothes started to fit me less. This was also a turning point in me becoming unhappy with my style. I knew I had to simplify my wardrobe and get rid of items once loved that no longer fitted.

Studies have shown that we need to cut how much we buy by 75% in order to make our wardrobes more sustainable – and that was certainly true in my case.

Like many others, I have been feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis. My rent has gone up by £50 per month, which has meant I’ve been looking for new sources of income to help me keep afloat. I’m constantly seeing people online selling secondhand clothes as a business and it got me questioning whether this would also work for me too.

I had no luck on the traditional resale platforms and it turns out I’m not alone in that area as a study by Samsung proved that 39% of Brits gave up on selling old clothes, with 55% admitting to throwing them in the bin.

In a last ditch attempt, I turned to the brilliant vintage clothing markets near my home in east London.

Clearing more than half my wardrobe into three large laundry bags, like knitted jumpers, leather coats and pretty sheer tops, I photographed all the items I wanted to sell in a professional way and enquired about how I could get my own stall.

A stall at a Hackney Flea market cost me £50 per day and I asked to book two days.

I invested in an £18 clothing rail to display my clothes, spent a further £11.98 on bags and price tags, £8.99 on laundry bags to transport stock and, on top of all that, I also spent £16 on Ubers there and back.

All in all, I was nearly £155 down before I’d even begun.

I was really nervous about not making that money back, let alone any extra on my clothes. That feeling only worsened when I noticed how small my collection looked in comparison to the huge rails other sellers had.

Still I persevered. I hung up my clothes and priced them up – my highest cost item was an embellished leather jacket that was £130 and my cheapest item was £5. I tried to make sure I priced things so that it was accessible to all.

I also had a really small amount of home wear, which I displayed on the tablecloth.

Once the doors opened, my worries eased. There were more people at my stall than I could count and some said it was one of the nicest collections of clothes they have seen.

I realised that, because my wardrobe was so carefully curated, it actually made my stall quite niche.

It was quite overwhelming watching clothes I could remember wearing over 10 years ago go to someone else. But after a couple of hours it was actually really fun and I was happy they’d be loved and worn more than they had been for years.

Of course, there were moments when people would take my clothes off to the bathrooms to try them on, which made me nervous as it was hard to keep track of who had what, but everything came back and there was no trouble.

On the second day, another seller came and asked me if I was ‘mainly selling bric a brac’. I tried not to be oversensitive but it felt like a dig at the quality of my items.

But most people asked when I’d be selling again or what other markets I traded at.

By the end of the two days, I was ecstatic with how much I’d made – £1,423.50 in total.

I didn’t have many clothes left to sell, but it didn’t take long to decide to make this into a side hustle. In my normal creative work, I’d struggle to make this sort of money so quickly.

I re-invested £300 back into the new business and called my stall ‘Three Bags Full’ – mainly because I can’t store any more than three bags in my flat, but it also helps to keep my stock carefully and individually selected.

Now I have been restocking my bags with newly-bought second-hand items that I’ve found with the intention of selling and not wearing.

Getting rid of things from my wardrobe has really helped re-evaluate my relationship to consumerism. For me, the simpler my wardrobe the better now.

For anyone considering whether to start a market stall, my advice would be to do one and see what happens. I didn’t expect so much good to come out of it in terms of financial help and it’s really boosted my confidence.

I haven’t confirmed my next market yet as stalls are so busy over Christmas I can’t get a slot this last minute – but I can’t wait to get back there.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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A new supermarket has overtaken Waitrose as the most expensive for a big shop – if you don’t use a loyalty card.

Sainsbury’s has been named by Which? in its monthly survey of prices of 131 items at Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – which does not include loyalty offers. 

A basket of 131 popular goods costs £359.23 at Sainsbury’s for shoppers without a Nectar card. This puts it ahead of the £355.51 basket at Waitrose, by just less than £4.

However, it’s worth pointing out that in a smaller survey of 39 items, Waitrose was most expensive and Sainsbury’s was named as fourth-most. Whereas, Aldi was named as the cheapest.

It comes as supermarkets have been increasingly making special offers only available to those who are members of loyalty schemes, creating two very different shopping experiences.

Which? has previously warned that the rise of loyalty schemes make it difficult for shoppers to compare prices between different supermarkets.

Ele Clark – the retail editor at Which? – said: ‘As millions struggle with increased food prices and other high household bills, it is no surprise that many are turning to discounters for their food shop. Our latest research shows that once again Aldi is the cheapest supermarket for a basket of groceries but for the first time, Sainsbury’s has come out as the most expensive for a big shop.’

However, Sainsbury’s has argued the claims are ‘false’ and ‘insulting’, instead stressing the items in question are ‘cherry picked’ and not a true representation of its pricing.

In response to the data, a Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘These claims are entirely false and insulting to the millions of savvy customers who choose to shop with us every week. There is an overwhelming amount of independently verified data showing the great value customers get when shopping at Sainsbury’s. 

‘We are disappointed that Which has refused to share its data with us and has instead chosen to mislead customers by choosing to exclude Nectar Prices promotions in its research.

‘The vast majority of our customers are shopping with Nectar Prices and have saved £400 million on their shopping in the last six months. Customers can be sure they getting great value every time they shop with us.’

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‘Westminster is a broken system… that incentivises the easy decision, not the right one… Vested interests standing in the way of change… Rhetorical ambition which achieves little more than a short-term headline.’

No, they’re not my words, though I agree with every one of them. This is taken from the speech of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself, speaking at the Tory Party Conference this week.

But it’s somewhat surprising to see Rishi Sunak being so scornful of how the country has been run lately, when he himself is the man in charge. The failings he lists so extensively are his own, and those of his own party. 

This marked the start of his hour-long ramble, as he reflected on the ghost of Tory Governments past, having seemingly woken up from a dream and suddenly noticed the destruction that lay around him.

An economy crashed by Liz Truss’s shambolic mini-budget; public services decimated by years of Cameron and Osborne austerity; an NHS on its knees after chronic underfunding and understaffing; standards in public life almost irreparably damaged by Johnson’s rule-shattering tenure; and a climate emergency worsening by the day. 

It could be argued that Sunak deserves to be cut some slack. Yes, Rome wasn’t built in a day – and the Prime Minister would surely argue that being in post less than a year means he hasn’t had long to pick up the mess that was left behind. 

But, inhabiting the ghost of his own Tory Government present, he was willing to trumpet some of his recent greatest hits. 

Take net zero – and his supposedly ‘pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach’ to reaching it. In just 12 short months, Rishi Sunak’s Government has approved a new coal mine for the first time in over 30 years, to international outcry. He’s given the go-ahead for the largest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea, and signed off over 100 other separate oil and gas licences too.

And in just the past few weeks, he’s backtracked on a whole host of climate measures, which would deliver warmer homes, cheaper energy bills and lower carbon emissions for millions across the country.  

Yet in the latest sign that Sunak has no clue or care about this issue, he claimed to have ‘solved a problem’, as if the climate emergency is about to float away into the ether. 

Quite the opposite – every one of these destructive steps will lead to higher bills, colder homes, soaring emissions and more devastating climate impacts. So much for ‘building a better future for the next generation’.

On another culture-war favourite topic, the day after Suella Braverman stood at the podium and referred to a ‘hurricane’ of migration about to hit the UK, Sunak bolstered her utterly dehumanising rhetoric by lamenting small boat crossings. 

He is ‘confident that once flights start going regularly to Rwanda, the boats will stop coming’ – such a plan isn’t merely unworkable (as not a single flight to Rwanda has left in 18 months since the plan was first announced), I believe it’s illegal and immoral. 

And straight from the hard-right playbook, Sunak wouldn’t deny himself a cheap round of applause for his nasty and divisive line that ‘we shouldn’t get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be’.

When transphobic hate crimes went up 56% last year from the previous year, turning trans people into a political football is something we have come to expect from his Government. 

But what this speech also set out was the horrors of this Tory Government yet to come.

After announcing that he will scrap the northern leg of HS2, it emerged that more money in the North of England will be going towards road resurfacing than on upgrading and electrifying rail lines. 

Cleaner, cheaper and quicker public transport will likely remain a pipe dream for millions, unless the Government starts investing properly in rail across the regions. 

And Sunak rallied against ‘rip-off degrees’, arguing that his Government would seek to ban them – yet the problem with these degrees is not the degree element, but the fact that they’re a rip-off. 

Students face a future saddled with tens of thousands of pounds in tuition fee debt and rising interest from maintenance loans, on top of a housing crisis and cost-of-living scandal. The solution isn’t to scrap the degrees, but to scrap the fees.

Yet there is hope – this is only a Tory Government yet to come if the public elect them back into office. 

And after 13 years of chaos, the desire for change will only surge higher after Sunak’s speech.

Such absurd attempts to present himself as a fresh face will fail – and the best ‘long-term decision for a brighter future’ that the public can make is to boot him out of office for good.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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The housing market in London is known for its high rents and high demand for properties – but it’s not just the UK capital that is seeing prices rise.

New analysis by Rightmove shows average rents outside of London have gone up 10% in a year – with Scotland seeing the biggest increases of 14.5%.

The cost of renting a home outside of London reached an average of £1,278 per month between July and September, meaning rents have gone up for the fifteenth consecutive quarter, according to Rightmove.

Some towns and cities have rent rises far above the average, however, with rents in Luton in Bedfordshire going up by 23.6% in the last year, to £1,263.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s director of property science, said: ‘Record rents and far more tenants looking to move than there are homes available means it will still feel very difficult for many tenants navigating the market. 

‘However, there are signs that some of the pressure between supply and demand is beginning to ease, with the number of new rental properties coming to the market now at its highest level since the end of last year. 

‘While it is likely that there is some way to go before this filters through to rental prices, if the improving trend between supply and demand continues, we could start to see the pace of yearly rent rises slow more significantly than it has been.

‘In the current market, tenants are having to do more to have the best chance of securing a rental property.’

Within London, average rents have gone up by 12.1% in the last year, to £2,627, while an average of 25 people are enquiring about each property, up from eight people per property in 2019.

In the north west of England, average advertised monthly rental costs have risen by 12% in the last year to an average of £1,105, Rightmove said. 

Meanwhile, in the north east of England, average monthly advertised rental costs have increased by 9.8% year-on-year to £856 per month. 

Wales has seen the smallest annual increase in advertised monthly rental costs, with a rise of 5.9% to £1,032 per month.  

The increase in enquiries is being driven by the ‘ongoing imbalance’ between supply and demand, with 41% more tenants looking to move than in 2019 and the number of homes available down 35%, according to the findings. 

Ria Laitmer, a lettings manager at Clarkes estate agents in Dorset, said: ‘The gap between high demand and a severe shortage of rental stock at the moment is just crazy. 

‘We’re receiving mounting enquiries for each property to rent from would-be tenants, with queues of tenants arriving to open-house viewings and the majority being left disappointed as there is just not enough properties on the market to meet the demand.’

However, the total number of available properties to rent is up by 14% compared with last year, while the number of new properties coming to the market to rent is now 7% higher than at this time last year. 

Rightmove said this was the biggest annual jump in new properties to rent since November 2022.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Even if it feels like life in Britain is becoming less and less affordable with each day that passes, it’s worth remembering (even if just for your sanity) that things could be worse.

Rapidly rising food costs are an area of concern for many households in the UK, with the price of some weekly shop staples almost tripling over the last two years.

While it’s likely scant comfort to those struggling, it may surprise you to learn that those living across the pond actually spend more on buying the same items.

After Abigael Lanai moved to London from Colorado, US, she posted a TikTok explaining that ‘cheap groceries’ were one of the things she liked most about her new home.

‘Are we living in the same England?’ joked one bemused commenter, which prompted Abigael to compare prices of a selection of everyday essentials in each country.

She clarified first that the supermarkets featured were two she had frequented personally – Sainsbury’s here and King Super’s in Colorado – so there would be variations depending on where you live and shop.

Getting down to the numbers, Abigael went on to analyse a four-litre bottle of milk. In the US, this would set you back $2.49, while in the UK it was priced at £1.65 (roughly $2).

‘That’s 50 cents or 40p more for the exact same item,’ commented the nurse and vlogger.

Next up was apples, coming in at up to 95 cents (79p) each over the Atlantic or 25p on the Sainsbury’s website, meaning Americans are paying more than triple what Brits are for the fruit.

One of the biggest differences shown in the video was beef mince. As Abigael explained, a 500g packet of mince costs £1.99 (the equivalent of around $2.40), while at King Super’s you’re looking at $5.49 for the same amount.

Carrots, meanwhile, are 50p (60 cents) per kilo here or $1.99 for 2.2lbs in the States: an expensive place to be a bunny rabbit owner.

In the comments, a number of people pointed out that there were some caveats to Abigael’s experiment.

One user said they were ‘shocked at how much cheaper’ the UK was when they lived here in 2017, adding: ‘Restaurants seemed more expensive, though.’

‘Depending on where you live in the US, you may have to pay sales tax also,’ said another. ‘7% sales tax on groceries in my state!’

Others highlighted the fact the average wage in Britain is much lower than in the US, and as a result people would have more money to spend despite higher food prices.

‘That definitely plays a role,’ Abigael added.

‘But for my family in particular, we went from being a two-income household because I was working full-time, to being a one-income household. And my husband makes the same amount, so his money goes a lot further here.’

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As the cost of living crisis continues to impact all of us, those in need of extra financial help are awaiting the next cost of living payment.

The £300 payment is being given to eligible households on means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or tax credits, with the money due to hit people’s accounts in the coming weeks.

Around eight million households are expected to receive this sum – but if you’re due a Cost Of Living payment, there are some important dates you need to be aware of, so that you know when to expect the money.

Make a note of these in your diary…

Cost Of Living payment – key dates to know

If you’re expecting a cost of living payment, these are the key dates you should be aware of…

October 31

This is when the payments will start arriving in bank accounts for those who are eligible.

The money should be automatically paid into those people’s bank accounts – there is no need to apply for the payment.

It should be paid to you the way you usually receive your benefits or tax credits, with a banking reference of ‘DWP COL’ or ‘HMRC COL’ respectively.

You won’t be eligible if you are only getting New Style ESA, contributory ESA, or New Style JSA.

If you didn’t receive the first Cost of Living Payment, and think you were eligible, contact the government department which usually issues your benefits.

November 10

Those who are claiming tax credits only will receive their payment from HMRC from this date onwards.

This is in keeping with the previous cost of living payment which was sent out later to the one million UK families who receive tax credits and no other benefits – the first payment this year was sent out between May 2 and May 9.

If you’re eligible, it should have been paid to you the way you usually receive your benefits or tax credits, with the same banking reference as above.

November 19

This is the final date for the Cost Of Living payment to be sent out.

If you haven’t received it by this date and you think you are eligible, you should contact the relevant government department.

Who is eligible to receive the Cost Of Living payment?

You’ll be eligible to receive the Cost of Living payment if you claim any of the following:

• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Pension Credit

To be eligible for a payment from DWP, you need to have claimed a payment for a qualifying benefit between August 18 and September 17, 2023.

If you qualify for the payment as a result of claiming tax credits, you need to have received a payment of those between August 18 and September 17, 2023.

The Cost of Living payment is tax-free, does not count towards the Benefit Cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefits.

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The Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party has claimed it is ‘nonsense’ to suggest there is poverty in the UK and told struggling families to ‘get off their arse’ and fend for themselves.

Speaking at a fringe event at the Tory conference in Manchester, Lee Anderson defended his comments on ‘this poverty nonsense’ and said when he was young ‘we didn’t go on TikTok or Facebook or moan and say: “I’ve got no food”’.

‘This poverty nonsense. Go in a time machine back to when I was growing up in the 70s, that was real poverty… It’s nonsense now, it’s absolute nonsense.

‘Yeah things are tough, things are difficult for families, people are struggling to budget sometimes, but this is not an impoverished island. This is a wealthy country and the opportunities are limitless in the UK, if you want something you can go and get it.

‘You need to get off your arse and go and get it for yourself,’ he added.

Speaking later in the event, he said he was able to say things that other Tory MPs have not, referencing his own hardships growing up and his previous jobs, including as a coal miner.

He said: ‘Our food bank was my dad’s garden.

‘When we’d not got enough food at the end of week we had to go down and pull some potatoes out and cabbages and go and get a chicken and that was our Sunday dinner. It’s as simple as that.

‘So when I talk about food poverty … and the 30p meals and all that sort of stuff, I’m speaking about that from a position of strength – I’ve been there, I’ve done it.’

But he appeared to row back on the remarks later in the event, saying: ‘I think it’s probably an unfair comparison just comparing life now to what it was in the 70s, although I do do it sometimes.’

Elsewhere in the event, the MP courted more controversy by saying: ‘I always think a dictator is a good idea, if they’re a good dictator, but there’s no good dictators is there, really. I think Jesus might have been one, but it’s not.

‘In a perfect world you would have a brilliant man who would make all the rules and be fair to everybody … but we don’t.’

Mr Anderson, who has a second job as a GB News presenter, was also asked if he felt uncomfortable about an exchange on the channel between Laurence Fox and Dan Wootton about a female journalist.

The Deputy Chairman said he had not seen the clip, has ‘no intentions’ of doing so, but said he had heard about it, adding: ‘I think it’s wrong what they said.’

He also defended his second job at GB News, saying as a result he pays around £85,000 in tax which contributes to public services.

The MP also criticised junior doctors for striking, saying: ‘Personally, I think they should be ashamed of themselves, people are dying.’

He added: ‘They bang on about they’ve lost 35% of their wages in the last 13 or 14 years, why didn’t they moan about it 13 years ago?’

When it was pointed out they would not have lost the money, he said: ‘Well, five years ago, six years ago, seven years ago – because it’s all on the back of these strikes that are going on to try and bring the Government down.’

Mr Anderson also suggested the benefits system can be ‘a little bit too nice’.

He spoke about working for a Labour MP earlier in his career around 2012, describing a case of a family claiming benefits with several children, adding ‘they’ve got these children on ADHD, I don’t believe a lot of that, I think some of it’s just bad parenting’.

He warned the children would then grow up thinking they cannot work, with the MP saying: ‘I think sometimes we’ve got to be a little bit braver and say to those young people, you are not disabled, you can go to work, we’re going to help you, we’re going to support you.

‘But why have we got a system in place which encourages parents to, sometimes – not all parents, obviously – but encourages certain parents to make extra money by labelling their kids as disabled?’

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With prices of everything from property to the weekly shop skyrocketing, many of us will be looking for a pay rise in the near future.

In some professions, however, the potential for a decent salary bump that matches inflation is somewhat limited.

According to new data by RIFT, certain jobs are likely to see big pay rises over the coming year – and they’re probably not the ones you’d expect.

The tax refund service analysed ONS earnings figures across different industries in the UK from 2021 onwards, using trends to predict future increases and decreases.

The highest earners all-round were (unsurprisingly) chief executives and senior officials with an average salary of £109,937, while cleaners came in bottom at £11,628.

Among the employees who made most were those in marketing, finance and information technology directors, medical practitioners, pilots and headteachers, with the worst-paid including kitchen assistants, retail cashiers, waiters and waitresses, bar staff, playworkers and lollipop men.

In the research, RIFT found that over 60 professions had seen wages drop in recent years, yet those on the lower end of the scale were often better off on an annual basis.

Authors, writers and translators saw the largest salary reduction of all, falling by 17.6% when compared to the previous year – a cut of over £6,000. Managers within the creative industries also saw a hefty drop of 17.1%, taking their yearly wage from £48,438 to £40,170.

Actuaries, economists and statisticians were third, taking a pay cut of 15.2% or £8,670, followed by travel agent owners and managers, insurance underwriters, and legal professionals.

On the opposite side, the workers set to see their bank balances grow most over the cost of living crisis were found to be hairdressers. Salon owners’ salaries grew 42.2% in a single year – a rise of almost £8,500 – so it may be worth dusting off your clippers if you want the opportunity to grow your income.

Bar staff have also seen one of the highest pay rises while pulling pints, earning 29.7% more on an annual basis (£2,025) and coming in second place in the ranking.

If you’re after the best of both worlds, not only do information and technology directors earn one of the highest salaries at £80,142, but they’ve also enjoyed a 27% pay rise year on year – the third highest of all occupations. 

Other roles where pay rises have been abundant include glass makers (+26.6%), sports coaches (+25.9%), barristers (+25.6%), youth workers (+25.5%), health care managers (+24.2%), beauticians (+23.6%) and travel agents (+22.1%).

Commenting on the findings, Bradley Post, MD of RIFT, said: ‘It continues to be an incredibly tough time for many where our household finances are concerned and with the dark clouds of economic uncertainty yet to lift, the last thing anyone needs is for their income to take a hit. 

‘Unfortunately, the figures show that many professions have seen a reduction in earnings, from crane drivers to dentists, bakers to engineers. 

‘However, this isn’t the case across the board and there are actually more professions who have enjoyed a boost to their pay packet when compared to the previous year. 

‘Of course, it’s unlikely that you would leave a higher paid job for a sector enjoying positive pay growth, but if you are working in a profession that has seen a reduction in earnings, it might be worth discussing a pay rise in 2023.’

Keep in mind, too, that these are averages. Regardless of the industry you’re in, don’t rule yourself out, build on your skills, and seek progression where you can.

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Private water companies are set to increase bills by about £156 to fund new plans to prevent 140,000 sewage overflow spills per year.

Outrage over the contamination of England’s waterways has been growing for months, which critics say has polluted ecosystems and sickened swimmers.

Companies spewed sewage into rivers and coastlines, some of it illegal, for more than 1,750,000 hours last year, amounting to 301,091 spills overall or an average of 825 a day.

As much as this was slightly lower than the year prior, the Environment Agency said it was less the water companies preventing the spills and more the drier weather not leading to flooding.

Now providers will invest £96 billion across the next five years to pay for 10 new reservoirs, cut leaks and stop the equivalent of 6,800 Olympic swimming pools worth of sewage spills, Water UK said today.

The body with represents the water industry said this will be nearly ‘double’ current investment levels.

But customers are expected to foot the bill. Amid a cost of living crisis which has already seen energy costs surge, the average water bill in England is expected to be £7 per month higher by 2025.

By 2030, bills will be £13 higher each month, or about £156 more per year.

Water UK said: ‘While increasing bills is never welcome, investment in our water system is essential to ensure the security of our water supply in the future.’

The industry said the upped bills would help fund, among other things, modernising the nation’s Victorian-era sewers and cutting leakage by more than a quarter by 2030.

Other upgrade works include nature-based schemes to manage rainwater and new technology to manage flows.

Firms have also agreed to more than double the number of households that will receive financial support, rising by 2,000,000 to 3,200,00.

Surfers Against Sewage, a charity that monitors pollution, criticised the announcement.

‘With all the revelations on the scale of the sewage scandal, the public is rightly going to be shocked by any increase in bills,’ Josh Harris, the group’s head of communications, told Metro.co.uk.

‘Water companies have paid out over £60,000,000,000 in dividends in the last 30 years whilst our sewerage infrastructure has been left to crumble. We’re demanding transparency on this process and that any additional cost is first covered by cutting dividends and executive bonuses.

‘Water companies have the chance to begin to put things right with their five-year plan, we are going to be watching and engaging to make sure that they do.’

The plans have been passed onto Ofwat to sign off on by December.

The energy regulator said in a statement that the proposals will be ‘subjected to forensic scrutiny’, with affordability and the environment being key concerns.

‘Customer bills must be fair,’ Ofwat said. ‘Customers will only pay for future investment, not past company mistakes.’

David Henderson, chief executive of Water UK, urged Ofwat to give the water sector’s 2025-2030 proposals the all clear ‘as fast as possible’.

He said: ‘Approving the plans is necessary so that we can provide the highest quality drinking water for a growing population, ensure the security of our water supply in the future and reduce the use of storm overflows as much as possible.’

Currently, water and sewage companies can only dump untreated waste only in exceptional circumstances, such as severe storms. Yet as campaigners point out, the nation’s water infrastructure is poorly adapted to extreme weather so gets overwhelmed easily.

The UK is consistently ranked as one of the worst countries in Europe for water quality, Surfers Against Sewage says.

The water companies’ proposals apply only to England because Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland manage their own sewerage treatments.

Environment secretary Therese Coffey welcomed Water UK’s announcement, saying ‘major improvements’ were required to fix the waterways and firms must ‘step up and deliver lasting changes’.

‘Customers should not pay the price for poor performance and they should use the full powers we have given them on behalf of consumers,’ she added.

Steve Reed MP, Labour’s shadow environment secretary, added: ‘The water industry and its regulatory framework are broken – with stinking, toxic sewage lapping up on our rivers, lakes, and seas.

‘This scandal is the Conservative’s fault – the government cut back enforcement and monitoring against water companies releasing this filth, and are now failing to prosecute them when they are blatantly breaking the law. 

‘It is shocking that during a cost-of-living crisis, consumers are now being expected to pay the price, whilst water CEOs are pocketing millions in bonuses.’

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There’s still 84 sleeps to go for the big day, but one savvy mum has already cooked multiple dishes for her Christmas celebrations.

Tahnee Beck, 33, began cooking on September 16, and has prepared meals for Christmas Eve, her Christmas cake and the veg for the big day.

The mum-of-two is no stranger to prepping early for the festive season – she usually begins her Christmas preparations on Boxing Day for the following year.

She hits the shops to bag bargains on presents and decorations. She estimates she gets Christmas at around half the cost of last minute buying – saving herself £5,000 in the last seven years.

Tahnee, said: ‘I just like to get all the work out the way so we can really enjoy Christmas.

‘I love Christmas – and a little prep helps me enjoy it even more.

‘In the past I’ve been preoccupied with getting lunch ready and the day has passed me by.

‘I’m now looking forward to a relaxed morning opening presents and not stressing about peeling potatoes.’

Tahnee has already made meatballs with sweet and sour sauce and an orange and melon salad for Christmas Eve.

And she has her Christmas cake, mince pie filling and four kinds of cookies stashed away for December 25.

Tahnee has also pre-prepared frozen red cabbage and apple, which cost her £1.50. She reckons this would cost £8.55 for the same quantity at supermarket prices neared the time – a saving of £7.05 on one dish.

Tahnee’s getting her recipes from a vintage 1977 pamphlet by Mary Berry, called ‘Freezing for Christmas’.

The booklet gives recipes for the week beginning Christmas Eve to be prepared and frozen in advance.

Tahnee said it’s opened her eyes to new dishes, such as mackerel pâté, and ingredients previously unknown to her, like ‘buckling’ – a type of hot-smoked herring.

Tahnee said: ‘I love all things vintage so this is a lot of fun for me. When I first saw the book a few years ago I thought it was amazing. I’ve never thought of freezing everything for Christmas in advance.

‘This book is also nostalgic fun for some of my family who remember this book from the first time around.

‘My husband grew up eating a lot of these dishes at Christmas and the pineapple ice cream and black forest cake are his favourites.’

Tahnee shares her month-by-month Christmas prepping guide, and her Christmas-cooking journey on YouTube and Instagram.

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Tougher rules on benefits and a boost to the national living wage will form part of a Tory plan to get more people into work, Jeremy Hunt announced today.

The Chancellor used his speech at the Conservative Party conference to announce the national living wage will increase to at least £11 an hour from April.

But alongside that, he also looked at the benefit sanctions regime to make it harder for people to claim welfare while refusing to take ‘active steps’ to move into work, with proposals due to be set out in November’s Autumn Statement.

Moments before his speech the news broke that the northern arm of HS2 was also going to be scrapped.

Speaking this afternoon he told the Tory conference in Manchester: ‘To make sure work continues to pay, today I take a step forward towards completing another great Conservative reform: the national living wage.

‘Since we introduced it, nearly two million people have been lifted from absolute poverty after housing costs, not by tax credits, or benefits, but by removing the barriers to work, boosting salaries, cutting tax, making work pay.

‘We promised in our manifesto to raise the national living wage to two-thirds of median income, ending low pay in this country.

‘At the moment, it’s £10.42 an hour and we’re waiting for the Low Pay Commission to tell us next year’s recommendation.

‘But I confirm today, whatever that recommendation, we will increase the national living wage to at least £11 an hour next year.

‘That’s a pay rise for two million workers and the wages of the lowest paid over £9,000 higher than they were in 2010 because if you work hard, a Conservative government will always have your back.’

Concluding his keynote speech, Mr Hunt said: ‘It’s easy to support higher growth, better public services and lower taxes. Harder to make it happen.

‘In Britain today, there’s only one party prepared to make those difficult decisions.

‘Our party and our Prime Minister, whose diligence and tenacity have given us the Windsor Framework, the Atlantic Declaration, the Trans-Pacific trade deal, and the NHS workforce plan, whose own life story shows just what’s possible with education, aspiration and hard work.

‘His story and our story: more growth, more jobs, more doctors, more nurses, better schools, less poverty, less crime.

‘It’s time to roll up our sleeves, take on the declinists and watch the British economy prove the doubters wrong.’

The Conservatives said the move will benefit two million people and follows the target for the national living wage to reach two-thirds of median hourly pay by October next year.

The Low Pay Commission, an independent body which advises the government, estimates the rate required to meet that goal should be between £10.90 and £11.43, with a central estimate of £11.16.

The increase will mean the national living wage will increase by over £1,000 for a full-time worker next year.

The Prime Minister said: ‘We’re sending a clear message to hard-working taxpayers across the country: our Conservative Government is on your side.’

Experts have also weighed in on the new minimum wage and said it does not keep up with other costs around the world.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Energy bills have increased by 85% since winter 2020/21 and, even taking into account the Chancellor’s new living wage rate, this does not keep pace with the soaring cost of energy.

‘People on the living wage will not feel like it is at a level that actually enables them to live in conditions fit for the 21st century. In fact, many will have been cutting back on their heating and energy bills in order to make ends meet.

‘MPs on the Energy Select Committee – as well as charities and campaigners – back more support for households this winter. Even energy firms support more help for households.

‘Seemingly, the only people left in the country who can’t see that people will need more help with their energy bills are Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet. They need to take action now to keep people warm this winter – and every winter.’

Commenting on the expected move, Terry Payne, Global MD of specialist recruiters Aspire, said: ‘This has been a long time coming and could start to make a difference to millions of people struggling to make ends meet and finding themselves falling into more debt every month.

‘Another 58p or so an hour might not sound like a lot, but across a month, it might just mean that people who can’t pay their rent or mortgage or put food on the table for their family are able to do so.

‘It’s certainly a step in the right direction, but more could and should be done by the government. The reality is that inflation – while falling – remains three times higher than the government’s target, which means that costs are still rising. This calls for action.’

Aspire’s quarterly Workplace Trends report showed the impact that the economy is having on the jobs market, with 60.9% of 1,100+ workers saying they are actively looking for a new job, in a bid to boost their earnings.

‘The jobs market is a useful gauge of the economic climate and how worried or confident people are financially. The fact that two in three people are actively looking for a new job, as they look to find better-paying role tells you everything you need to know.’

Food Poverty Action, an anti-poverty group, said Mr Hunt’s wage increase is ‘pitiful’ at best.

‘Energy prices have almost doubled, so this pitiful increase means many workers will be left without heat this winter,’ the campaign group said.

‘Meanwhile, the bosses of energy firms enjoy huge salaries and report enormous profits.’

The national living wage sets out the lowest amount workers aged 23 and over can be paid per hour by law, while the national minimum wage covers those of at least school-leaving ages.

But Katherine Chapman, the director of the Living Wage Foundation, says there should be a third option: one based on the ‘real cost of living’.

She said: ‘A rise in the statutory National Living Wage from next April is welcome news for low-paid workers, but may fall short of the real Living Wage next year, the only rate that is independently calculated based on the cost of living.’

Chapman says that the group’s living wage – currently set at £10.90 – is expected to see a ‘significant increase’ when announced later this month.

‘Our research out last week showed that 60% of people earning below the real Living Wage had used a food bank in the past year and nearly 40% were regularly skipping meals,’ she added.

The plans to make work pay come as the Tory party is embroiled in a row over tax policy, with Cabinet minister Michael Gove pushing for cuts before the election to help working households.

Mr Hunt has insisted that tax cuts in the Autumn Statement are unlikely, with the focus on reducing inflation, but the Tories are likely to have a full Budget in the spring before any election in 2024 which could provide an opportunity for a giveaway to woo voters.

Mr Hunt and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride are expected to use November’s Autumn Statement to set out tough welfare reforms.

‘I am incredibly proud to live in a country where, as Churchill said, there’s a ladder everyone can climb but also a safety net below which no-one falls,’ Mr Hunt will say.

‘But paying for that safety net is a social contract that depends on fairness to those in work alongside compassion to those who are not.

‘That means work must pay, and we’re making sure it does. From last year, for the first time ever, you can earn £1,000 a month without paying a penny of tax or national insurance.

‘But since the pandemic, things have been going in the wrong direction. Whilst companies struggle to find workers, around 100,000 people are leaving the labour force every year for a life on benefits.

‘As part of that, we will look at the way the sanctions regime works. It is a fundamental matter of fairness.

‘Those who won’t even look for work do not deserve the same benefits as people trying hard to do the right thing.’

For Helen Barnard, the director of policy, research, and impact at the Trussell Trust, which operates food banks, how the national living wage increase is coming alongside a benefits crackdown cannot be ignored.

‘At a time when more than half of Universal Credit claimants are not able to afford to eat properly, it is disheartening to hear that the chancellor and Government may choose to prioritise harsher benefit sanctions,’ she said.

‘Universal Credit is falling so far below the level needed to afford just the essentials that is damaging people’s health, increasing strain on the NHS, and holding people back from being able to get and sustain work.

‘Increasing benefit sanctions is only likely to increase hardship and push more people to the doors of food banks.’

Mr Hunt this morning said it is ‘not the right time’ for tax cuts as they would fuel inflation.

Asked how the Conservatives can win the next election without slashing taxes, the Chancellor told GB News: ‘The way you win elections is by making promises that people believe. And we are being very honest with people, there is no shortcut to tax cuts.

‘We’ve got to be more efficient with the way we spend taxpayers’ money and I’ll be talking about that today.

‘If I gave a big tax cut this year, it would be inflationary because you’d be putting money in people’s pockets which would boost up demand, which would ultimately mean prices go up as well. So this is not the right time.

‘But as a Conservative, do I want to bring down taxes? Yes, I do. And what I’ll be saying is we’re prepared to take the tough and difficult decisions for the long term that mean that we do have a lower-taxed economy and with Rishi Sunak you have a leader who doesn’t shy away from those difficult decisions.’

He also appeared to rule out slashing inheritance tax as he stressed no tax cuts are currently possible.

Asked about a potential cut to death duties, the Chancellor told GB News: ‘I’m basically saying that I don’t think it’s going to be possible to do any big tax cuts.

‘On the basis first of all of the public finances as we see them because our debt interest payments have gone up a lot, but also because it would compromise our battle against inflation.’

Pressed again on whether he was ruling it out, he said ‘no tax cuts are possible in a substantial way at the moment’.

‘It’s not just inheritance tax, it’s income tax, it’s all the different taxes that people look at.’

In other developments at the Manchester conference, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is set to announce plans to ban mobile phones from classrooms in England, with a source telling the Daily Mail she believes the devices ‘pose a serious challenge in terms of distraction, disruptive behaviour and bullying’.

Former prime minister Liz Truss will also call for tax cuts, fracking and measures to boost housebuilding in a bid to put pressure on Rishi Sunak from the Tory right.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, seen as a potential successor to Mr Sunak, will use her conference speech to stress her Brexiteer credentials and accuse critics of seeking to talk down the UK.

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A typical household’s yearly energy bill will rise by £73 in January, according to new forecasts.

Starting in October, the average household is expected to pay the equivalent of £1,923 a year until December.

This amounts to a fall compared to current levels, with annual bills currently at a typical rate of £2,074, and follows a downward trend in the price cap this year.

But analysts at consultancy firm Cornwall Insight say bills will rise again to £1,996 at the start of 2024.

This is based on a predicted rise of around 3.5% in the energy price cap forced by increases in wholesale energy prices.

Future changes in the price cap are not set in stone, as the cap is based on variable factors such as the amount of energy people are using and the costs faced by energy suppliers.

The cap is designed to limit the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of energy consumed.

Bills are still much higher than in 2021, and some government support available last winter has been withdrawn.

But they are forecast to keep falling steadily throughout next year, reaching around £1,922 by next winter.

The figures are based on a definition of average energy use which is being phased out.

Under the new definition, the forecast average yearly bill will be around a hundred pounds less – for example, £1,898 in January.

Dr Craig Lowrey, Principal Consultant at Cornwall Insight said that while it is ‘disappointing’ to see the trend of falling energy bills stall, ‘given the movements in the wholesale market of late it is not wholly unexpected’.

He added: ‘While the rise is small, it shows we cannot just assume prices will continue their fall and eventually reach pre-pandemic levels.

‘Policies need to be put in place to deal with the possible situation that high energy prices have become the new normal.

He warned that government support could ‘ease the burden on vulnerable households’ but ‘cannot overcome the effects of a volatile international energy market on bills’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Despite summer 2023 not giving us the weather we deserved often, it’s reluctantly time to start thinking ahead towards winter and, like 2022, for many of us, that will mean keeping a keen eye on energy bills.

The Ofgem energy price cap is due to drop soon, moving from £2,074 in July to £1,923 from October 1 till December 31 2023.

While this is a significant reduction from both the April 2023 price cap of £3,280 and the Energy Price Guarantee of £2,500 put in place over Winter 2022, it will still mean higher-than-average bills for many.

When the price cap was first introduced in January 2019, the typical annual household energy bill was £1,137 per annum for average use.

The term’ price cap’ can be slightly misleading in that it is not a cap on the amount you can pay but the amount a supplier can charge you per kilowatt hour.

For example, this means the new price cap of £1,923 will work out at £0.27 per kWh for electricity.

Fortunately, there are a few things households can do now to help prepare for higher-than-average winter energy bills.

How to prepare for Winter energy bills

Helpfully, the folks at energy company OVO have compiled a few helpful tips on managing energy use and how much households could save by making some minor changes to their energy habits.

Greig Millar, OVO Energy Expert, said: ‘There’s so many simple but really effective things we can all do to improve our home’s energy efficiency and reduce bills.

‘As it starts to get colder outside, now’s the perfect time to take simple, affordable action like bleeding your radiators and draught-proofing windows and doors, to prepare for winter and start saving money.’

Turn down your boiler flow temperature

Cost to implement: Free

Potential saving: £65 per year

Turning down the temperature of your boiler flow can be a simple way that households can save money on energy bills.

OVO say, ‘Many condensing combi boilers are burning more gas, generating more emissions, and costing households more than they need to because they’re set to 70-80°C.

‘These boilers should be set to a flow temperature of 60°C to increase the chances of them running at their optimum efficiency.

‘Turning down a single setting will make your boiler work more efficiently, saving around £65 a year for the average household.’

Bleed your radiators

Cost to implement: Free

Potential saving: £90 per year for a typical household

Bleeding your radiators should be undertaken periodically to ensure they work at peak efficiency – a brilliant way to prepare for the winter.

Radiators that require bleeding usually run cold at the top but warm at the bottom.

This is caused by trapped air, which means that your heating system has to work harder to raise your home’s temperature – potentially increasing bills.

Greig Millar says, ‘My recommendation is to bleed your radiators once a year – all you need is a radiator key and you can follow a step-by-step guide here.’

Install a smart meter

Cost to implement: Free

Potential saving: Variable (dependent on energy habits)

Smart meters can help you navigate your energy use much more efficiently by spotting which items cost you the most to run.

All you have to do to get them installed is book an appointment through your energy supplier.

Lower the radiator valves in less-used rooms by 3 degrees

Cost to implement: Free

Potential saving: £136 per year per household

Having the radiators blasting in rooms you aren’t spending a lot of time in can be particularly bad for your energy bills and an inefficient way to heat your home.

Checking what your radiators are set to before winter arrives is a prudent strategy for combating excessive bills. 

Insulate with window film

Cost to implement: Usually around £7-10

Potential saving: £43

If you live in an older property, your building may not be as well insulated as newly built properties.

To help combat this, adding window film to any single-glazed windows can help keep heat in the property and lower your annual bills.

Draught-proof windows and doors

Cost to implement: £4.79 for two rolls of draught-excluder tape

Potential saving: £50

One way to prevent heat from escaping through door gaps is to use draught excluders. In addition to doors, windows can also benefit from draught-excluder tape.

This is a cost-effective and efficient solution to save energy and money. By sealing off draughts and retaining warm air, you can reduce your energy consumption to heat your home.

Convert to LED light bulbs

Cost to implement: £2.50 per bulb

Potential saving: £7 per bulb

While switching to LED light bulbs will incur a slight cost, the amount you could save on your bills will far outweigh the initial expense.

OVO say, ‘An energy-saving bulb uses less electricity to give the same amount of light as a traditional bulb.

‘Energy Saving Trust worked out that if you replaced all your bulbs with LED bulbs, you’d reduce your carbon emissions by up to 40kg a year.

‘For every 60 watt bulb in your home, you could save up to £7 per bulb, per year.’

Uncover leaky spots with an energy assessment visit

Cost to implement: from £25

Potential saving: Variable based on home and energy habits

Having an energy professional asses your home for it’s efficiency can help save you on your energy bills.  

Many suppliers, like OVO, offer the services of an energy professional at a reasonable cost. 

According to OVO, ‘Citizens Advice suggests upgrading the UK’s leaky homes to an EPC rating of C could save households up to £951 per year.

They go on to say Energy experts can ‘provide an expert assessment and personalised Home Health Report for your home, with advice to save energy and money.

‘You’ll also get a brand-new Energy Performance Certificate, that could be worth up to £120.’

Check your boiler is working efficiently

Cost to implement: from £89 per boiler service

Potential saving: If it saves you a replacement, anywhere from £1,150-£5,500

Having your boiler break down in the depths of winter can be an absolute nightmare.

As such, ensuring it has been serviced before the colder months is a brilliant way to prevent any disasters from striking and get ahead of any potential problems.

MORE : Martin Lewis’ top energy bills advice – from knowing your debit cycle to working out the best deal

MORE : As the cost of living crisis continues to impact millions what energy bills help is available in autumn and winter 2023?

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Every morning at 5am, I’d skip breakfast and start my job cleaning city offices for two hours.

I then travelled across London to start a second job as a waitress at a cafe that served typical Colombian food like empanadas, rice and arepas. I would arrive starving – with still no time or money for breakfast – and start mopping the floors, wiping down tables and serving customers. I’d usually work a four-hour shift.

The thing is, this cafe paid just £4 an hour – which was below the national minimum wage at the time of 2008 for my age bracket – but I accepted the job because it included ‘free’ lunch. This meant that I was having my first proper meal of the day at midday.

After this, I’d attend my English courses for the day, and then clean again at another job.

Now, 15 years on, things are a lot less chaotic for me, but so many jobs continue to pay below the real Living Wage and workers are still finding themselves where I once was. It’s a disgrace.

When I decided to come to the UK from Colombia in 2008, I was so optimistic.

I came to learn English and I immediately fell in love with London. I felt like you could be whoever you wanted in this city.

But quickly, I realised how difficult it would be to afford to stay. I wasn’t afraid of hard work so I took the aforementioned multiple jobs.

My first few months were awful. I came in November and it was bleak, lonely and raining all the time.

Although I found work within a week of arriving in the UK, I had to stick to a strict budget – and even then, there were months I couldn’t meet my needs.

I gave myself £10 a week for groceries so I was surviving on staple foods like plain rice, which I would get for 30p. I was used to eating on a budget and regularly relied on large yoghurt pots for 80p or £1 burger vouchers.

Every day, I felt like I was losing money, losing weight and losing sleep.

Being paid so little affected every aspect of my life. My working day would often end at 10pm, and I would get home completely exhausted.

I felt demoralised, frustrated and incredibly sad. I was working constantly, but could barely afford to survive, let alone live fully. 

There was one month in particular when I had to renew both my English course and student visa for around £1,000 altogether, so I had £1 left in my account to feed myself. I felt utterly helpless.

I remember speaking to my brother that day and he said he would give me some money so I could eat for the rest of the month. I had never relied on anyone but myself, but the sheer desperation of my situation meant I accepted it. 

Thankfully, in the last few years, my life has started to change.

After the first lockdown ended in June 2020, I discovered Empoderando Familias through a community WhatsApp group, which is a space run by people from Latin American communities that organises with Citizens UK to take action on issues like low pay and mental health. 

Due to the pandemic, all interactions were online. But even then, talking with other people who wanted to make a difference after experiencing some of the same financial and emotional struggles started to shape me. 

With this new sense of belonging, I slowly felt myself becoming whole again.

Now, I run my own business helping members of my community with their employment problems, explaining their rights and ensuring employers are not exploiting them.

When I was asked by a community organiser at Citizens UK to be a part of their ‘Making London a Living Wage City’ campaign in April last year, I said ‘yes’ almost instantly. The campaign aims to put wages back into the pockets of low-paid workers by urging businesses in London to pay their employees a real Living Wage.  

As a worker leader on the project’s steering group, I help to shape the campaign and be a voice for low-paid workers. Then, in May last year, I found myself sitting around a table with London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Bishop of London.

I shared stories about the times I chose between heating or eating and the effect this had on my life. I had a duster on the table in front of me while I spoke because I wanted to represent cleaners. Both the Mayor and Bishop listened attentively to me and expressed their commitment to tackle low pay. 

Hearing that, I felt the confidence that I had lost returning.

The issue of low pay remains so close to my heart. It makes me sad to know there are people right now who are living how I was 15 years ago – working hard but still in poverty.

I feel honoured that I can be a voice for cleaners and other low-paid workers to encourage more employers to pay their workers a real Living Wage.

With the cost-of-living crisis, too many low-paid workers are worrying about whether they can afford to turn the heating on during winter or if they’ll be able to afford groceries. This shouldn’t happen in one of the richest cities in the world.

So I will continue to fight because people like me deserve a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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We all love a Greggs, and when it’s free, we reckon it’ll taste even better.

Sometimes, it feels impossible to buy lunch without spending upwards of £7 on a boring cheese baguette.

But now, everyone’s favourite high street bakery, Greggs, is offering a free pizza slice and a hot drink for anyone who signs up to the app before October 16.

That means you have more than two weeks to bag yourself a free lunch. 

The deal was shared in Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert newsletter along with some other freebies currently up for grabs. It read: ‘Think there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

‘Yes, you really can get totally free food at cafés, restaurants and supermarkets.’

If you download the Taco Bell app, you can nab yourself a free crunch taco. Fancy a dessert? Krispy Kreme is also offering free doughnuts to anyone who signs up to Krispy Kreme Rewards. You even get another one on your birthday. 

Yes, it’s glazed original. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! 

The Greggs app is available on Apple or Android, as is Taco Bell (download the Apple app or Android app now).

You can sign up for Krispy Kreme Rewards on mobile or desktop.

Enjoy!

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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The cost of living crisis is still with us, and motorists are just one of the groups hit very hard by high inflation.

The good news is that there are some signs that things might be improving, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announcing that fuel prices have fallen by 16.4% in the year to August 2023,

However, more recent increases have seen the average price of petrol rise 5.3p per litre between July and August 2023 to 148.5p per litre, and the average cost of diesel rose 5.9p per litre (to 151.1p per litre) in the same period.

Another problem facing car owners is the stubbornly high cost of car insurance.

Money Saving Expert (and national treasure) Martin Lewis has been one of those to weigh in on how motorists can save money on car insurance, even during times of high prices.

So why are premiums so expensive at the moment, and just what advice has Mr Lewis got to offer?

Read on to find out.

Why has car insurance gone up?

According to Admiral car insurance, The Association of British Insurers (ABI) found that the current average insurance price was a whopping 15% higher in the first three months of this year compared to the same time in 2022.

This was mainly attributed to the cost of claims increasing dramatically over the last year, with many factors related to inflation.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, insurance costs dropped significantly due to the lockdowns, meaning fewer motorists were on the road, and the volume of claims fell.

However, as life returned to normal, several factors have increased the cost of claims.

What is Martin Lewis’ advice on car insurance?

Money Saving Expert recently issued urgent advice to motorists that could be worth hundreds of pounds in savings.

A recent MSE newsletter advised motorists to ‘Take a few minutes to check if you’re overpaying.

‘If you are, even if you’re not near renewal, you may be able to lock in a price to forestall future increases for a year.’

To avoid paying higher premiums, consumers should search for new and more affordable deals now and lock them in before the next increase. However, it’s important to note that the newsletter cautioned some drivers may incur early exit fees.

One reader claimed to have saved £738 using the MSE price comparison tool after finding a better deal with lower excess for £384 – down from £1,122.

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A new report could spell the end of stressful holiday planning, as it reveals the best day and time to book your getaway.

Travel giant Expedia say they have analysed ‘billions of booking data points’ to compile their ‘2024 Air Travel Hacks Report’, which breaks down all you need to know if you want to be money savvy about your trip.

The research suggests that no, it isn’t a myth, there really is money to be saved on certain days of the week.

And, you can even protect yourself from flight cancellations if you book wisely.

The research found that those who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save the most, by as much as 23%.

It also suggested that booking in advance is key if you want to get those savings.

Expedia said: ‘Travellers that booked 162 to 180 days prior to departure saved 34% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute.

‘Meanwhile, for international airfares, the ideal booking period is eight to 23 days prior to departure, and the worst booking period is 36 to 63 days prior to departure.’ You can save 8% by booking this way.

When it comes to making sure your flight actually takes off, the early bird catches the worm. The data found that 19% of Brits try to avoid morning flights so they don’t have to get up super early and can avoid extra stress, but flying earlier means your flight is less likely to be cancelled.

Expedia has a price tracking function on their app, which lets travellers know when prices are set to change.

When it comes to where holidaymakers will be booking their flights to next year, Expedia say that the most popular international destinations for Brits are New York, Dubai and Bangkok.

Closer to home, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Istanbul are popular European spots.

Among the most popular international destinations for UK flyers are New York City, Dubai, and Bangkok.

While the most frequented European destinations are Amsterdam, Barcelona and Istanbul.

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Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis’ advice on everything from energy bills to supermarket trips has proved crucial to thousands during the cost of living crisis.

The legendary consumer rights champion and award-winning campaigning journalist has been one of the most trusted sources of advice for those navigating the minefields of high inflation and interest rates.

High energy bills have been among the most significant issues for many over the last couple of years.

Though the Ofgem price cap is due to come down, many households will still be expecting higher bills this winter.

So, what has Martin Lewis had to say about energy bills over the last couple of months, and what advice does he have to offer?

Here is what you need to know.

MSE energy bill advice

Energy bills have been a significant driver of the cost of living crisis for many households nationwide.

According to a release from the Office for National Statistics earlier this month, around 4 in 10 (42%) energy bill payers reported they were difficult to afford.

While this was slightly lower than in a similar period last year (48% between 31 August and 11 September 2022), almost half (47%) of adults in Great Britain are still using less fuel, like gas or electricity, in their homes because of the rising cost of living.

Fortunately, Martin and the MSE team have plenty of tips for helping with the situation.

Know your direct debit cycle

One of Martin’s best pieces of advice involves those who pay their bills by direct debit.

Although direct debit is usually the cheapest way to pay your energy bills (and is great for budgeting purposes), the system runs on a ‘cycle’ of building credit during the warm summer months and using that buffer during the colder months, when you are more likely to use more energy to run your heating.

With price fluctuations being so great over the last couple of years, some people’s direct debits may have been set at unrealistic levels, particularly if they have reduced their energy consumption in response to higher prices.

Early November is when you should be in maximum credit with your energy company, so it is an excellent time to check your balance.

According to Martin, if your credit seems unusually high, Condition 27 of energy suppliers’ licences means that your energy company owes you either an explanation for why or a potential refund that could amount to hundreds of pounds.

Some companies may give automatic refunds, whereas others will not.

Practical steps:

• Ensure you give up-to-date meter readings
• Monitor where you are in your energy cycle
• Call your energy company and ask for an explanation if your level of credit seems unusually high.

Consider a fixed deal vs variable tariff

Over recent weeks, some suppliers have begun to offer fixed-rate deals again. However, these should be scrutinised, as the energy situation is still subject to change.

Although some companies only offer fixed-rate deals to existing customers, a few are advertising deals to new customers as well.

MSE say, ‘Based on current predictions, if any firm offers a fix for about 5% less than the July Price Cap, that looks a decent deal.

‘If it’s the same as or just under the July Cap, it may still be worth considering if you strongly value price certainty.

 ‘Of course, current predictions are just predictions, so we can’t promise to be right with hindsight.’

You can use the MSE ‘should you fix’ calculator to help inform your decision.

Practical steps:

• Shop around to keep an eye on what fixed deals are on the market
• Keep an eye on your emails to see if your energy provider is offering a fixed deal to existing customers
• Look up the latest trustworthy predictions on what energy prices could look like in the future

Don’t fall for energy-saving myths

If you want to cut your energy use, it can be tempting to resort to various tips, tricks, and hacks to save on bills.

However, some of these will be wiser than others, and the MSE team has researched some of the most common myths and used information from the Energy Saving Trust to determine if they are effective.

Practical steps:

• MSE has published a complete list of myths and their viability for more information.

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If you want to experience fine dining for less, The Ivy have the answer thanks to their new loyalty scheme.

The iconic restaurant chain, beloved by A-listers, has launched a money saving loyalty app. They even called in the help of none other than rockstar and Ivy fan, Rod Stewart, who has dubbed the new scheme, ‘sexy’.

Available to download now, the app allows users to collect points each time they dine, which can then be used to pay towards their next bill.

The scheme can be used at The Ivy Collection restaurants, The Ivy West Street, The Ivy Club, The Ivy Asia and Granary Square Brasserie.

There are two tiers: green and gold. Green benefits include earning 5p for £1 you spend, to be used on future payments. You also get a birthing treat – for the week leading up to and after your big day, you can earn double points on one reservation. You also get a ‘sweet surprise’ on one reservation too.

Meanwhile, gold benefits include all the above, plus a few extras. Each year, you’ll receive one pass for you a guest to the Ivy Club, the exclusive private members club above the Covent Garden restaurant.

You’ll also apparently be ‘treated like the VIP’ with a priority reservations service.

The restaurant has also introduced a Rod Stewart curated cocktail menu to celebrate the launch – the beverages use the singer’s own whisky brand.

Since it opened it’s doors in 1917, The Ivy, in Covent Garden, has become somewhat of a London institution.

Back then, it was a modest Italian café without an alcohol license – but it’s become synonymous with celebrities sipping champagne, and ladies who lunch.

It now has spin off branches across the UK at a more affordable price point, but you’ll still see paparazzi camped outside The Ivy, hoping for an A-list sighting. In the early 90s, it was said to be a firm favourite of then ‘It couple’ Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Do you have a story to share?

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MORE : Aldi’s ultimate winter gadget is back to save you money on heating bills

Aldi’s sell-out Heated Airer is coming back!

It wasn’t long ago we were complaining about the heat, and now the cold has come along to give us new material to moan about.

With temperatures dropping as we head into cool autumn and winter months, many of us are worried about heating our homes.

Given the energy crisis, the costs are adding up and many of us don’t want to pay extortionate bills to keep the heating on.

Which is why the budget supermarket’s sell-out winter gadget is so popular. Aldi’s Heated Airer product is back in stores in just a few days, and it is set to cut down your bills.

The heater, which costs £39.99, is said to cost less than 50p to run for eight hours (though you might not want to leave it on for that long).

Aldi claims that the heater costs 6p per hour to run, though it does depend on the wattage of the appliance.

So even if you use it a few times during the week, keeping it on for four hours, the costs for the year overall should not be more than £37.

The large 230W heater, which can be plugged in, has 20 heating tubes meaning you can use the heater to dry your clothes or just keep your home warm and cosy.

The sell-out airer is back on the shop floor from September 28, but you’ll want to be quick as once it’s gone, it’s gone.

The heater will be available as a Specialbuy, meaning it won’t be restocked, so you’ll need to act fast.

While Aldi is certainly one of the cheaper purveyors of this sort of heater, remember to compare prices online as other retailers have similar products.

Websites like Google shopping and Trolley.co.uk can check thousands of results and get you the best price…

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The North East has been hardest hit by the rise in shoplifting out of a list of hotspots in England and Wales, according to new research.

Locations in the area feature disproportionately in the 25 municipalities worst impacted by the wave of retail crime, the analysis shows.

Westminster is the single district with the highest number of reported thefts, heading the list with an average of 16.64 crimes per 1,000 head of population annually.

The London borough has a population of 102,330 but also huge footfall as the country’s flagship shopping district encompassing Oxford Street and the West End.

Lincoln came second, with 15.23 crimes per 1,000 head of population, followed by Hartlepool, Worthing, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Adur, Mansfield, Dartford and Bassetlaw.

Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Wakefield, Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle and north-east Lincolnshire also appear in the top 25, drawn from three years of official data.

The picture follows on from research showing a 27% increase in retail crime and a £2.8 billion loss from customer theft in the last financial year, which is described as ‘the tip of the iceberg’ by the British Independent Retailers’ Association (Bira).

While opinion is divided as to the reasons for the spike, the North East regions are also some of the most deprived in the UK.

Hartlepool ranks as the fifth most income-deprived local authority in England out of 316 locations, according to the most recent Office of National Statistics (ONS) data.

Middlesbrough is at the top of the list, the figures for 2019 show.

Cameron Jaques, business insurance expert at money.co.uk, which extracted the data, traced a link between soaring levels of retail crime and the increases in household bills and prices at the tills.

‘The cost of living crisis is affecting us all,’ he said.

‘With the cost of food and basic necessities continuing to rise, it’s not surprising that shoplifting is on the rise as well as large segments of the UK’s population struggle to afford essential everyday items.

‘With the North East of England having the highest poverty rate of all the regions and Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Newcastle upon Tyne being in the top 25 UK shoplifting hotspots, it’s safe to think there’s a correlation.

‘If the cost of living crisis is here to stay, it’s likely that supermarkets and retailers will have to deal with shoplifting as a regular occurrence.’

Retailers may be driven out of business or towards Argo-style shopping models due to the tide of shoplifting, Bira told Metro.co.uk this week.

Although it acknowledged that the government has taken steps to combat the problem, CEO Andrew Goodacre warned further action is needed before the situation ‘spirals out of control’.

‘If the tide of thefts is not contained we will see business owners close because losing stock is the same as losing cash,’ he said.

‘In convenience stores, the margins are too small to withstand the cost of stock losses at these levels.

‘Other changes, and some of these have already happened, will be shops operating a closed-door policy by appointment only, replacing products on shelves with dummy products, investing in better CCTV and body cameras for staff and reduced hours.

‘Ultimately, we may well see shops adopting the Argos model where stock is kept in a storeroom and people order items from a catalogue.’

Shopkeepers have spoken out in recent weeks of being physically attacked, including with weapons, by unwelcome visitors to their stores.

Iceland boss Richard Walker said thieves have been armed with hammers, knives and even hypodermic syringes as they target the chain’s branches.

In the backdrop to the ugly scenes are the British Retail Consortium figures showing that retail crime incidents increased by 27% across 10 of the UK’s largest cities in the 12 months to July 2023.

The trade association has also found that violence and abuse toward workers soared from around 455 incidents per day in 2019 to 2020 to more than 850 a day last year.

‘The recent research is just reported crimes so it is probably the tip of the iceberg,’ Mr Goodacre said.

‘Further research in Scotland indicates that retailers, especially in food and drink, experience a theft of something every day.

‘Examples include wine, nappies, clothing and DIY tools, it stretches across almost every product category.’

The rising scourge of retail crime has generally been blamed on the cost of living crisis and on organised crime gangs, with differing views on which is the overriding factor.

‘There has always been shop theft, often driven by perennial perpetrators with addictions,’ Mr Goodacre said.

‘This current epidemic definitely has an organized crime element to it, and the cost of living crisis may well have increased the black market for goods.

‘But the real cause is the fact that criminals have realized that shop theft is a low-risk, high-reward crime after years of the problem being treated as a low priority by the relevant officials.’

Speaking ahead of Safer Business Action Week beginning October 16, Mr Goodacre acknowledged government efforts to tackle the problem.

‘Steps have already been taken by the government, and shop theft and associated violence have been placed higher up the police agenda,’ he said.

‘We need to ensure that there are consequences for the criminals and we need to dismantle the black markets for the products.

‘Listening to small retailers, all they would like to see is greater police presence on the high streets – either police officers or PCSOs.

‘There are some good examples, such as in Sussex, and these “wins” need to be shared and replicated before the problem spirals out of control.’

The Bira report found that 56% of retailers feel the police response is ‘fair’, although ‘many’ said there was no point reporting violence or abuse due to a lack of response or difficulties contacting their force.

Inderjit Ayedee, a store manager at the Tech Outlet in Tottenham Court Road, Westminster, told Metro.co.uk: ‘On occasion we have had incidents but luckily nothing major. We know from speaking to other traders that the problem has got worse and the people doing it are a lot younger.

‘There’s only so much you can do because at the end of the day the product still has to be visible to the customer.

‘You can’t chase after and grab shoplifters because the law has changed, it’s softened shall we say. The way the system is there’s no point reporting a theft under the value of £200 as nothing will happen, it’s a ridiculous situation. The West End has always been a target for thieves and the rising level of retail crime is just the way society is going.’

The money.co.uk map drew on crime data collated from police forces between August 2020 and July 2023, the longest timeframe publicly available, and population figures from the ONS. Greater Manchester was not included due to police data collection issues, the researchers said.

Amanda Blakeman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for acquisitive crime, said: ‘Retail crime has a damaging impact and we are committed to tackling offenders and supporting retailers in reducing shoplifting and attacks on retail staff. Violent offences will never be tolerated and we prioritise our policing response where there is a risk to individuals.

‘We know that organised crime is responsible for a proportion of these offences and we welcome the collaboration between retailers, police and crime commissioners and policing through Project Pegasus, which enhances our ability to identify and tackle the groups involved.

‘Centralising our intelligence about organised retail crime enables us to target resources where they can be most effective and alongside our close working with industry and government as part of a national task force, we are tackling the issue from all perspectives.’

Ms Blakeman added: ‘Organised crime is of course only part of the problem and we continue to target those prolific and habitual offenders whose behaviour causes misery and takes profit from our communities and retailers. Local police forces assess each report through a threat, harm and risk model to determine their response and will deploy resources where they can be most effective in catching offenders and keeping people safe.’

The Home Office is also involved in Project Pegasus, a police crackdown on shoplifting due to receive £600,000 from 10 supermarkets and retailers

A spokesperson said: ‘Shoplifting strikes at the heart of the British high street, and the policing minister has asked forces to take a zero-tolerance approach to this crime and pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry.

‘We are working with businesses and the police, including supporting Project Pegasus which will enable retailers to share better information on shoplifting with police forces and build up a national strategic picture, helping to crack down on serious offenders across the country.’

MORE : Shop owner losing £1,500 a month in ‘epidemic’ of teenage shoplifting

Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk

With the cost of living crisis still making its presence known, millions of people relying on government help to get through the worst of it.

ChancellorJeremy Hunt announced in the Autumn Statement last year that he would increase benefits in line with the rate of inflation – including a 10.1% increase for PIP – the Personal Independence payment aimed at helping those over 16 suffering from long-term physical disability or mental health condition.

The payment also comes with some other benefits for those who claim – as there are certain discounts that claimants qualify for, guaranteed to make life easier.

What freebies do PiP claimants qualify for – and what can they get discounts on?

What discounts can PiP claimants get?

These are some of the main discounts you could be entitled to:

Council Tax discount

You could be entitled to a council tax discount if you claim the daily living or mobility component of PiP.

To find out what you might be able to get you should contact your local council – it will likely depend on how much PiP you’re claiming as well as your personal circumstances.

You may also need to show you PiP letter as proof you are claiming the benefit, in order to get the discount – and be aware you’ll probably still have to pay something towards it.

However, if you’re classed as ‘severely mentally impaired’ you may not have to pay anything at all if one of the following applies:

• you live on your own
• any other adults in your household either qualify as severely mentally impaired or are full-time students

Severe mental impairment is classed as a permanent condition which profoundly affects intellectual or social functioning – and can include conditions such as dementia, severe learning difficulties or Parkinson’s Disease.

Blue Badge

According to the Government website you are eligible for a blue badge if you are aged over three and are claiming PiP because you cannot walk more than 50 metres.

You can use your PiP letter to apply for a blue badge – although some councils may charge you for this.

The most you will have to pay, however, is £10 in England or £20 in Scotland. In Wales it is free.

Once again contact your local council to find out about this.

A blue badge will give you access to designated spaces in car parks as well as on-street parking – while it also allows parking on single or double yellow lines where it would not be allowed under normal circumstances.

Vehicle tax reduction

Those who are receiving the standard rate mobility component of PiP can get 50% off their vehicle tax.

Given that in some cases this can be as much as £2,355, a 50% reduction could save you well over £1,000.

The vehicle you are claiming on must be registered in the name of the PiP claimant or the name of their nominated driver.

You can find out more about requirements for this and how to apply for vehicle tax at the Government website, while you’ll need to visit the Post Office to apply – use their website’s branch finder to locate the one closest to you.

Free prescriptions

You may qualify for free NHS prescriptions if you are claiming PiP.

However not all conditions qualify for this – some which do include cancer, diabetes and epilepsy, as well as physical conditions which prevent claimants for going out unassisted.

You can check on the NHS Business Services Authority website which conditions qualify for an NHS Exemptions certificate.

To apply, ask your GP for an FP92A form.

Disabled facilities grant

You may be able to apply for this if you have a disability and need to adapt your home to make it easier to live in – for example if you need to widen doorways or install ramps.

The maximum you can get in England is £36,000, while it’s £30,000 in Wales and £25,000 in Northern Ireland – the discount is not available in Scotland.

You can find out more and apply via your local council.

Other discounts

Other discounts and freebies you may qualify for include

Transport discounts – you might be able to claim a disabled person’s bus pass or Railcard which will get you up to a third off train travel. If you claim the enhanced rate mobility component of PiP you may also get discounts on toll roads across the country

Discounted days out – if you have a carer they may be entitled to some discounts, such as the Essential Companions Card for English Heritage and National Trust venues and the CEA Card for cinema admissions.

A Merlin annual pass for their attractions – including Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, SeaLife Centres and Legoland – also includes one complimentary pass per disabled person which can be used by a carer.

Discounts on water bill – some water suppliers offer this through the WaterSure scheme – again this depends on your circumstances and how much water you use (for example if someone in the household has a condition which requires extra water). You should contact your supplier to see whether you might be eligible.

Vehicle leasing – if you claim the enhanced rate of the motability component of PiP, and have 12 months or more left on your current allowance you may be able to join the Motability Scheme.

This allows you to trade some or all of your earnings from this component (£71 a week) towards a new car or other vehicle such as a powered wheelchair. If you opt for a car you will have over 2,000 models to choose from – with insurance, tax and service charge all included in the price.

MORE : As the cost of living crisis continues to impact millions what energy bills help is available in autumn and winter 2023?

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I can’t decide if I feel more angry or scared by Rishi Sunak’s announcement this week. 

Scared, probably – but only marginally.

His back-pedalling on the green pledges made by the Conservative Party just two years ago in order for the UK to achieve ‘net zero’ is only going to cause further, undoable damage to the world we’re leaving for our children.

As a mum, I can’t help but think it’s unforgivable.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced that green changes are far too expensive for a country in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and has therefore made huge U-turns on the UK’s climate change plan.

He has delayed the 2030 production ban on petrol and diesel cars to 2035, and he has even qualified this by saying non-electric cars will still be able to be bought second hand thereafter. And he has similarly pushed back the commitment to phase out gas boilers from 2026 to 2035.

Since he made this announcement, he has come under a barrage of criticism. And he can hardly be surprised.

Especially after the summer we have just witnessed, with wildfires blazing through Europe, Russia, Canada, to name just a few. Here in the UK, we swung from the hottest June on record to some parts of the nation experiencing record rainfalls for much of the rest of the summer.

Surely it has never been more apparent that we need to act to save our planet? And that we need to act now.

This action isn’t for us, but for our children. As a mum to Theo, five, and Immy, three, I am literally terrified for their future, and that of their whole generation.

What kind of world are they going to grow up in?

Will their houses be ruined every year by flooding? Will they not be able to have a summer holiday abroad because the heat will just be too much? The thought now makes me worry – goodness knows the climate anxiety they’ll face and the effect it will have on their mental health.

On the surface, climate change will seemingly have quite a simple effect on the UK. Summers are going to be hotter and drier, while winters will be warmer and wetter. Although that doesn’t sound too bad – who doesn’t look forward to a nice hot sunny day? – these bring very real risks.

The heatwave of 2003 caused 2,000 excess deaths in the UK – and that was 20 years ago, so what will it be like 20 years from now? Or 40 years? Similarly, the wetter weather will likely cause more flooding and all of the resulting issues around that.

And the change in temperature is just the start.

When you think of the UK, you think of rolling green fields, an abundance of countryside, full of flora and fauna. An idyllic place to grow up, surrounded by nature.

Yet, scarily, one in six species of UK wildlife face extinction because of climate change.

I used to love to see puffins when I went on family holidays up to Northumberland as a child – but the UK population is set to plummet by up to 90% over the next 30 years. Does that mean Theo and Immy will never see such seabirds in the wild?

Similarly basking sharks may leave our shores, leatherback turtles are already critically endangered, bumblebees and salmon – both crucial for their and our environment – are at risk.

Even oak trees are in danger because the climate is changing too quickly for them to adapt, and they’re now facing new pests and diseases, droughts and flooding.

Back in October 2021, the UK was already declared in the bottom 10% of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. By the time my children grow up, what is actually going to be left? 

Because of the way the weather will affect crops, the food Theo and Immy eat is likely to be different – and even getting a cup of coffee will be far harder, as key coffee regions in Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia are all set to ‘drastically decrease’ by around 50% by 2050.

I had always imagined Theo and Immy going off into the world, travelling to exotic countries and experiencing new places and cultures.

But The Maldives could be 80% uninhabitable by 2050 at current global warming rates. The population of koala bears has nose-dived to between 100,000 and 200,000 since the stream of disasters in Australia have almost completely wiped out their natural habitat.

Yet, Theo and Immy are the lucky ones.

Because so many other countries – and children – are going to face even more devastating consequences of climate change.

In the last decade, more than 150,000 deaths each year have been attributed to climate change – and nine out of 10 of those deaths were children.

In developing countries, climate change will increase the top five causes of death for children under five years old.

Climate change is increasing incidents of extreme weather and natural disasters – and in these events, children are more at risk of injury or death.

And this is only the next generation – what about the ones after that? How will Theo and Immy feel about bringing children into the world in 25 or 30 years? I would hate the thought of them not having the joy of having their own babies but I can understand it getting to a point when the future is too unstable to want to bring little ones into it. 

The Prime Minister said he was ‘absolutely unequivocal’ about adhering to the commitment of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and he pointed out that the UK is already ahead of other countries in taking action against climate change.

The thing is, it doesn’t matter who is ahead or behind. We are all in this together – not as separate countries, but as one world.

And if other countries aren’t pulling their weight, then surely it’s all the more reason for us to do as much as we can to save our beautiful world from burning around us, rather than relaxing our own targets.

Sunak has said that he is trying to save households thousands of pounds by delaying green pledges – but businesses and environmental experts have said his plans could simply cost consumers more in the long run.

I think, if his plans go ahead, it’s our children who are going to be paying. And it will be a horrifying price.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

MORE : Rishi Sunak needs to wake up – his government is sleepwalking through their term

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The cost of living crisis is set to impact millions again this winter, in spite of the Ofgem price cap falling from October 1.

While the cap will fall to £1,923 for a direct debit customer as of that date, people are still set to have stubbornly high bills given that the £400 discount given by thegovernment on 2022’s bills is not being issued this year.

There are, however, other tricks you can consider to try and keep costs down once the heating comes on this winter – and all it needs is a little bit of boiler know-how.

In fact there’s one simple tweak you can make to your boiler which can help you save on your bills – and here’s how you do it…

How to lower money on your heating bills with your boiler

While turning down your thermostat might help keep costs down, there’s another setting on your boiler which can also contribute to lower bills – the flow temperature.

The flow temperature determines how hot the water is when it leaves the boiler to power up your radiators – which is how most central heating is controlled.

This differs from the temperature on your thermostat – for example if that is set at 20°C the boiler will heat water to a higher temperature and send it to the radiators until the air around it hits the 20°C mark.

In order to do this the temperature of the water in your boiler will be considerably more – with many set at around 75-80°C.

But if you have a condensing combi boiler you can actually set it a lot lower than that – roughly 60-65°C will still do the job nicely.

It will also mean the boiler uses less gas – in turn bringing costs down – and if it’s a combi boiler you can also adjust the tempature of your hot water separately.

Most boilers installed after 2005 will have be condensing boilers – so worth checking how old yours is if you want to try this.

How much could you save on your bill?

According to Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) you could lower your bill by around 6-8% by sorting our your flow temperature.

However this depends on a lot of factors, such as the size of your home, the size of your radiators and what overall effect it has on your heating if you turn the temperature down (i.e how much longer it takes your radiators to do their job).

Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Future at Nesta, previously said: ‘Many people are already doing as much as they can to save money on energy bills but there are hidden tricks that people can take themselves that don’t affect their comfort.

‘We have found people can save £112 a year just by making one change to their combination boiler to make it more efficient – a much bigger saving than many better-known energy saving tips.’

If you’re unsure how this could benefit you, consider booking in a boiler service toget some expert advice.

How to turn down the flow temperature on your boiler

If you’re looking to turn down the temperature flow on a system or regular boiler you should ideally seek expert guidance on this – but if you have a combi you may be able to do it yourself with a little help from the instruction manual – as per the advice below.

There are also online resources which can help – such as Nesta’s Money Saving Boiler Challenge, for example.

One thing to be aware of is not turning the temperature down too low – around 60-65°C is ideal – as you could run the risk of Legionella bacteria in your water if the water temperature dips too far down (you want to ensure it’s above 50°C to avoid this.

As always, if in doubt, consult a professional to make sure you are doing everything as safely as possible.

MORE : As the cost of living crisis continues to impact millions what energy bills help is available in autumn and winter 2023?

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A branch of supermarket Co-op has placed its olive oil under lock and key following a number of thefts.

The bottles at the shop on Sprowston Road in Norwich, Norfolk, are displayed in security cases that can only be opened by staff on request, it was revealed on Friday.

The extreme measure was put in place after the store saw a significant rise in shoplifting.

The thefts reflect a UK-wide trend, where reported shoplifting incidents have risen by 27% across 10 of the country’s largest cities, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

In some cities, they were up as much as 68%, it said.

Earlier this year, one in 10 young adults admitted to stealing items from supermarket self-checkouts to cope amid the cost of living crisis, according to survey of 2,000 people.

A spokesperson for Co-op said: ‘Protecting the safety of our colleagues is a priority and we know shoplifting can be a flashpoint for violence against shop workers.

‘So, whilst this is not a nationwide policy, a decision to implement product security measures at a local level will be made, if a store is experiencing a particular issue.’

Matt Hood, Co-op Food managing director, said: ‘We have seen some horrific incidents of brazen and violent theft in our stores, where my store colleagues feel scared and threatened.’

This week, the BRC called on police officers to do more to help combat the ‘unprecedented levels’ of theft and abuse which they said is blighting communities.

The coalition of businesses and staff said they are not turning up to deal with violent attacks on workers because the criminal has already fled the scene.

In a letter to police and crime commissioners across the country, they said that ‘in the vast majority, if not all’ cases there will be CCTV footage available and urged forces to make it easier for them to pass on crucial evidence and boost efforts to find serial offenders.

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