The cost of living remains one of the most pressing issues facing households across our country and it is felt even more acutely at Christmas time. During a recent visit to my local Tesco store, I spoke to staff and volunteers from FareShare and the Trussell Trust. These are members of our community on the front line who give up their time to support struggling families. Their message to me was clear, people are finding it incredibly difficult to make ends meet, writes Patrick Spencer MP.
This is for a number of reasons as pressures on living costs continue to escalate. For example Labour’s removal of the Winter Fuel Payment which has left many older people anxious about how they will heat their homes. Utility bills, while stabilising slightly, are still significantly higher than they were just a few years ago. And real time wages haven’t risen substationally for fifteen years. As a result most households have seen incomes swallowed by rising costs long before payday arrives. Local businesses, too, are feeling the strain and expressing concern about the future following last year’s tax rises such as the hike in National Insurance payments for staff.
Whilst always difficult, at this time of year these challenges are even harder to face. Christmas is often sold to us as a season of joy and abundance with tables piled with food, families gathered and presents beneath glittering trees. But behind the glossy imagery is a very different reality for many. Christmas can be very lonely and financially overwhelming.
There is no shortcut to easing the pressure on households. Long-term solutions require long term commitment, real investment in quality jobs, stronger wage growth, and a sustained effort to bring inflation under control. Labour needs to act now. Families cannot and should not continue to carry the burden of stagnant wages and rising costs indefinitely. Our local economy, too, relies on a strong foundation of stable incomes, thriving small businesses, and we deserve public investment that matches the scale of the challenge.
As we try to push the Labour Government towards this long term approach there is still a great deal we can do locally to support one another. Small acts of kindness can make a significant difference. Checking in on a neighbour who may be isolated, donating to a local charity or shopping with independent business thereby keeping money circulating within our local economy are all helpful actions that can go a long way.
There are also many organisations in our local community doing vital work. The Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre is one, it offers a warm and welcoming space for local residents and café 66 in Kesgrave is another fantastic hub, bringing people together while supporting local employment. And charities like the Trussell Trust and FareShare, both active in and around Ipswich, continue to provide a lifeline to families who need them most.
My plea would be to support them in whatever way possible because the cost of living crisis is not just an economic issue, it is a human one. It affects our wellbeing, our relationships, and our sense of security. But in difficult times we show strength by coming together. By looking out for one another and supporting our neighbors we can help ease the pressure now and set an example for this Labour Government to follow.
Patrick Spencer is the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
