The charity Buttle UK reported the majority of families surveyed are struggling to find money to heat and power their homes, adding the cost of living crisis has strained parents’ relationships with their children. Alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing an investigation for breaching parliamentary rules over clothing donations to his wife.
Buttle UK surveyed 1,567 families it supports. Most said they had to forego meals and sleep on the floor or concede a bed to their children because they could not afford beds.
Many parents alluded to giving their bed to their child or sharing it with them at night, while others simply told us that they were all sleeping on the floor because they had no other option. Parents and carers described high levels of sacrifice and self-denial to ensure that their children still ate. They themselves often went completely without, reporting the dire effects on their health and wellbeing, the report said.
Many families reported black mould was endemic in the house and impossible to remove due to the cold and damp. “This mould was described as permeating their furnishings and clothing, leaving their children with coughs and poor health. Families cannot afford to replace these damaged goods, and some cannot afford to clean them, either.”
Joseph Howes, the chief executive of Buttle UK, said:
The findings from this report are tough reading. What it shows us is that the cost of living crisis is by no means over – and we need urgent intervention from the government to stop things from getting even worse. The charity is calling on the government to lift the two-child benefit cap and significantly increase universal credit payments, as well as introduce a health strategy for young people in poverty and overhaul NHS children’s mental health services.
Reverse side of the issue
A government spokesperson said on the issue of family poverty: “No child should be in poverty – that’s why our new cross-government taskforce is kickstarting work to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty and give children the best start in life. Alongside immediate action to protect vulnerable families through extending the household support fund, we will be reviewing universal credit, providing specialist mental health support in every school and rolling out free breakfast clubs in primary schools as we deliver our plan to tackle inequality and make work pay.”
On the other side, in the face of the economic troubles the United Kingdom is facing, Keir Starmer has breached parliamentary rules by failing to declare clothing donations for his wife from Labour Party donor Waheed Alli.
This year Starmer received and revealed details of around £19,000 worth of work clothes and several pairs of glasses from Lord Alli, the former chairman of fashion retailer Asos, who has a fortune estimated at more than $260 million. The donations covered the cost of a personal shopper, clothes and fitting for Lady Starmer before and after Labour’s election victory in July, while MPs must register gifts and donations within 28 days. To top it all off, they must register any benefit given to a third party, whether it was accompanied by a benefit or not, according to the guidelines.
“We sought advice from the authorities on coming to office. We believed we had been compliant, however, following further interrogation this month, we have declared further items,” a Number 10 spokesperson said.
Lord Alli’s connection to the Labour leader was already proving controversial after it emerged that he had obtained a pass to Downing Street without apparently holding any public office. The news caused embarrassment for the Prime Minister, who has promised to clean up politics amid “a black hole” in the economy.
A Conservative party spokesperson said: “It’s taken just 10 weeks for Keir Starmer to face an investigation for his conduct. After facing allegations of cronyism and now apparent serious breaches of parliamentary rules there must be a full investigation into the passes for glasses scandal. No doubt the millions of vulnerable pensioners across the country who face choosing between heating and eating would jump at the chance for free clothes just to keep warm in the face of Labour’s cruel cut.”
