Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

UK poverty worsens: Additional 1mln people in poverty in 2021-2022

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Jan 2024 12:16
3 Min Read

The poverty gap in the UK continues to increase amid an increasing cost of living crisis.

  • x
  • Protestors from Fuel Poverty Action group  demonstrate over the number of excess deaths in Britain due to pensioners unable to heat their homes in winter due to rising fuel costs outside Downing Street in London, on Jan. 19, 2023(AP)
    Protesters from the Fuel Poverty Action group demonstrate over the number of excess deaths in Britain due to pensioners unable to heat their homes in winter due to rising fuel costs outside Downing Street in London, on Jan. 19, 2023 (AP)

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) released a new analysis showing that due to the intensifying cost-of-living crisis in the UK, a million more people were living in poverty in 2021-22 than in the previous year. 

The report stated that an increasing number of people are unable to afford food or pay energy bills as the number of people who were in poverty increased from a total of 13.4 million people, including 3.9 million children, to 14.4 million people, including 4.2 million children, as of 2021-22.

Paul Kissack, Group Chief Executive of the JRF, said, “It has been almost twenty years and six Prime Ministers since the last prolonged period of falling poverty in the UK. Instead, over the last two decades, we have seen poverty deepen, with more and more families falling further and further below the poverty line."

According to the report, six million people had incomes far below the standard poverty line and were in "very deep" poverty in 2021-22. It added that the poverty gap, or the amount of money needed for the incomes of the poorest people to meet the poverty line, has grown wider as the latter on average need to more than double their income to overcome poverty.

Any couple with two children under the age of 14 whose annual household is below £14,600 ($18,519) is currently considered in "very deep" poverty. In addition, larger families, disabled people, part-time workers, the self-employed, and people living in rented accommodations are currently among those facing particularly high levels of poverty.

As inflation in the UK is still running at twice the target level, benefits are way behind the rising prices, unemployment is rapidly increasing, earnings are still below their 2008 levels, and housing costs are highly increasing. It is unclear what more obstacles will show up in the future, according to the JFR report.

5% rise in UK energy bills

British citizens will start their new year with a 5% hike in energy bills, British power regulator Ofgem announced on January 1.

The company said the decision was driven by the global geopolitical tensions affecting the oil and gas markets, including the war in Ukraine that is approaching its two-year mark and the recent military escalation in the Red Sea between the US-led maritime coalition and Yemenis, who are carrying out operations targeting Israeli and "Israel"-bound ships in response to the occupation's ongoing genocide in Gaza.

From January 1 to the first of March, households will add 94£ to their annual bill, the firm said.

Adjustments to electricity costs are introduced every three months, with a cap on how much suppliers can charge citizens as per consumption set by Ofgem. The change will see cost rising from 1,834£ in 2023 to 1,928£ in 2024.

Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley acknowledged that many people are having “a difficult time” and that “any increase in bills will be worrying."

The cap is applied to unit rates and standing charges, meaning that the more energy a household uses, the more they will pay. Additionally, a household's location affects the bill since the cap on electricity prices varies slightly across different regions of the country.

  • cost-living crisis
  • JRF
  • Poverty
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • povert gap

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS