Cost of Living Action is delighted to be a founding partner of 'Creators for Progress', a creator community designed to build support for climate-positive change, with @89up.org Thanks to @mrmoneyjar.bsky.social for speaking at our launch this week.

Great to represent @costoflivingaction.bsky.social at today's APPG for Ending the Use of Foodbanks inquiry launch into the setting of universal credit rates, hosted by @trusselluk.bsky.social at the Hammersmith and Fulham foodbank.

Energy prices go up today, in a big blow for households across the country who simply cannot afford to pay more for the essentials. COLA's response:

It was great to bring some #COLA partners to meet the Parliamentary Green Party yesterday to discuss the cost of living crisis. @greenparty.org.uk @sianberry.bsky.social @neweconomics.bsky.social @cmmonwealth.bsky.social @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social @taxjustice.net @gndrising.bsky.social

It's been a busy week in politics. COLA partners @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social and @38degrees.bsky.social a new petition, addressed to our next Prime Minister, outlining the need for a wealth tax on the ultra-rich so that the UK can work for everyone. Sign it here: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/de...

It was a pleasure to represent @costoflivingaction.bsky.social at the @unisontheunion.bsky.social conference today in foggy Brighton, speaking on a panel about wealth taxes and what they could achieve, with @patmillsuk.bsky.social . Thanks for the invite and to the audience for a great conversation.

"As inflation stays high, bills and prices continue to rise, with households all over the country struggling to cope." COLA's @osheaconor.bsky.social reacts to today's inflation stats.

A trillionaire? In this economy? 🤑

COLA partner @fairness.bsky.social have today released a fantastic report on the experiences of children in our increasingly-unequal country, and the impact this inequality has upon them throughout their lives. Read it below:

"54% (of Makerfield residents) supported introducing a new “wealth tax” on assets over £10m to fund the NHS, schools and other public services, while 28% were opposed to new taxes on wealth." More support for the COLA platform from Makerfield. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

NEW COALITION PARTNER Cost of Living Action is delighted to announce our newest coalition partner @99organisation.bsky.social. 99% join us to fight for a future we can all afford.

"A universal credit statement is never a personal indictment – it’s economic information. If millions of workers rely on benefits to survive, and more are struggling, the shame belongs not to workers, but an economic model that increasingly fails to make work pay." www.bigissue.com/opinion/univ...

"More than a third of people, across every party, age and gender, spontaneously brought up the cost of living when asked what changes would make life for them and their families better." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Today, June 2, is London Cost of Rent Day. By now, the average London renter has effectively worked 5 months just to pay their landlord. That's 5 months of wages gone on rent alone. Londoners need stronger protections on their rents!

It was fantastic for COLA to be represented at #ChangeNOW this weekend, speaking to so many people about our policy platform and displaying our craftivism work, outlining the reality of the cost of living crisis. Thanks to all involved for a great day. @compassoffice.bsky.social

This crisis is sucking the joy out of life for millions of families, with small treats and presents – let alone holidays and foreign travel – a distant dream. Campaign coordinator @osheaconor.bsky.social is quoted in this piece in the @the-independent.com. independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

This morning, the energy price cap has increased, meaning households will have around £200 added to their bills. This will strike fear into families across the country who cannot afford to see bills rise again. Our response:

The government is right to look at price caps on food, with reports that they were investigating similar on rent also welcome. This is an unprecedented cost of living crisis where bills are crippling families. Implementing fairer pricing must be part of the government response.

Councils must now give 63 days notice before charging someone in arrears their full annual council tax debt, up from just 7 days. The hard work of COLA partner @debtjustice.bsky.social and their group of people who have experienced debt made this happen! debtjustice.org.uk/news/campaig...

This would be more like it! It's great to see a prominent politician from the governing party back so much of the COLA platform, from rent control to fairness in social security. Today's government should take some of Lord Blunkett's advice. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Labour MPs and the public disagree on the government's handling of the cost of living crisis, our polling finds. The public expects more on the cost of living, but MPs don't see how out of step they are with what we need. @alb-toth.bsky.social www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

While today's King's Speech contained little-to-nothing in the way of specifics on how the government intends to raise living standards, Cost of Living Action has a platform of popular and effective policies that would spark the change our economy needs.

"The best thing to do politically is also the best thing to do economically." @hannahpeaker.bsky.social is right. Direct intervention is the only way out of this cost of living crisis, and the government's only option.

The cost of living crisis and our low growth are two symptoms of the same problem: an economic structure that hasn’t been working for a long time. We need to take on the root causes of those costs.

So what should we do about it? @yuanfenyang.bsky.social is spot on about the structural issues underpinning the cost of living, and her suggestions - particularly a rising block tariff on energy - come closer to meeting the challenge than anything we’ve seen from this government. /4

For both, the UK’s growth model has been too dependent on asset-inflation and rent-extraction, and not enough on investment in genuinely productive sectors. This is a critical driver of both our sluggish economy and the rising cost of essentials. /3

"For families like mine, credit is both a lifeline and a trap. Because nursery costs exceed my full time salary, I rely on credit cards to pay upfront and claim UC reimbursement. Credit makes work possible, but also exposes me to the risk of debt and interest when UC payments are delayed or missed."

We are pleased that the Bank of England did not raise interest this week, amid a devastating cost of living crisis. COLA was pleased to support @positivemoneyuk.bsky.social's action outside the Bank, urging the bosses to make this decision. positivemoney.org/uk/update/ba...

⚡BREAKING ⚡ The Bank of England has just voted to hold interest rates at 3.75%. While we're glad they didn't raise them (which we were outside telling them not to do today 👇 ), rates are still too high. The Bank of England should press on with rate cuts ✂️

Following on from her published piece in last week's @bigissue.com, Thea, one of our amazing COLA campaigners, has written for our website on the experience of attending our Parliamentary relaunch last month. www.costoflivingaction.org.uk/resources/co...

Excellent news that the Chancellor is considering freezing rents to address the ongoing cost of living crisis. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

"Credit is the life raft that keeps me afloat. But it’s also pulling me out to sea." Thea, one of our amazing COLA campaigners, has written a fantastic piece for the @bigissue.com outlining her experiences of our campaign and the cost of living crisis. www.bigissue.com/opinion/sing...

Yesterday, Cost of Living Action brought our solutions to the cost of living crisis directly to those who can do something about it. We held our first policy forum with the Living Standards Coalition, discussing in detail the options the government has to bring down energy bills.

Banks are laying off thousands of workers and closing branches across the country, all whilst reaping record profits over the past few years. The govt should be taxing the windfall profits that banks have made from interest rate rises. Full Metro Bank story 👉 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Are you ready if you see an MS candidate out and about or at your door? Download our Unpaid Carers Manifesto and have it on your phone. Let us know you’re ready by replying with a 💪 Link to manifesto here bit.ly/rightstoreal...

Ed Miliband just announced that the Government will aim to delink the price of electricity from gas, something we’ve argued for since 2022. This is bold, welcome, and targets a core problem in Britain’s electricity prices. How this happens, though, matters enormously. 🧵

$30M an hour. Unearned profit. From your pocket. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Millions across the UK are already struggling just to get by. Bills are rising, wages aren’t keeping up, and families are being pushed to the brink. As the impacts of the Iran war ripple through the global economy, things are set to get even worse.

At last week's Cost of Living Action event in Parliament, some of the MPs present wrote on our board. After reading testimony from people struggling with the cost of living, they were asked "what will you do as a result of what you've seen today?". Here's what they said:

Cost of Living Action is one of 40 orgs & unions that urge the government to tax excess profits of energy, banking and defence sectors - set for bumper paydays from the war on Iran - to help with the cost of living pressures. Read the open letter at taxjustice.uk/IranWar @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social

This week, politicians heard @costoflivingaction.bsky.social's policy demands loud and clear. Now it's time for action from the government and all poltiical parties to show they're serious about ending this crisis once and for all.

The @costoflivingaction.bsky.social campaign was relaunched in Parliament this week, bringing MPs, campaigners and people sharing their experiences of the damaging impacts of rising costs on their lives into the same room Reas our take on the event: https://balancedeconomy.pulse.ly/o4jdzi6a5i

We were delighted to bring our campaign to Westminster yesterday, as we hosted our relaunch reception in Parliament. Supporters from across the country made their presence felt through their fantastic #craftivism, organised by coalition partner @wecarecampaign.bsky.social

The cost of living should be the top priority for this Parliament, so it was amazing to host so many people, including the government's Cost of Living Champion Richard Walker, at @costoflivingaction.bsky.social's parliamentary launch. Have a watch!

Relaunch of Cost of Living Action today with @yuanfenyang.bsky.social and Lord David Walker, the Cost of Living Champion. “Any second spent not thinking about the cost of living is a wasted second” (Keir Starmer) @costoflivingaction.bsky.social @patmillsuk.bsky.social @99organisation.bsky.social

We are pleased to support @costoflivingaction.bsky.social which launched in parliament yesterday. Tackling pay inequality is vital to addressing the cost of living crisis through ensuring decent wages and conditions for all across the economy.

Yesterday we took Cost of Living Craftivism Stitched Up project to Westminster with @costoflivingaction.bsky.social Not a loud protest. But with stitched messages from unpaid carers living with this every day 🧵1/7

Our members joined @costoflivingaction.bsky.social launch in Parliament. Hearing direct from people with lived experience reminds us: the govern must act on this crisis - now, not later. Thanks to @yuanfenyang.bsky.social for hosting this coalition of 40+ orgs. ♥️ seeing #craftivism in action too!

I'll be on Matthew Wright's show on @lbc.co.uk in about 10 minutes to speak about government plans to limit energy companies profiteering from the ongoing crisis, speaking for @costoflivingaction.bsky.social. Tune in!