75% believe poverty is worsening and 69% believe that the Government isn’t doing enough to tackle the problem

Christmas in crisis as nearly two-thirds of Britons fear financial struggles will cast a shadow over the holidays

‘We are often made to feel that poverty or financial insecurity is a personal failing, but when nearly one in three people are worried, they won’t be able to heat their homes - the problem clearly lies with systematic failures’ – Jen Clark, Amnesty

New research from Amnesty International UK and Savanta reveals that 67% of Britons are worried or somewhat worried that they or their loved ones will need to cut back on essentials this winter due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The concern is even higher among specific groups, rising to 76% of those aged 35-54 and 74% of women.

The research highlights how widespread the issue is in the UK:

• 27% of people are worried about not being able to heat their home this winter
• 22% are worried about going into debt
• Among 35-54-year-olds, one in three (30%) fear going into debt
• Over a fifth (21%) of 35-44-year-olds are worried about having to skip meals

Christmas in crisis

The research also shows that for many families, the upcoming Christmas will be overshadowed by financial stress. Among those who say they celebrate Christmas, nearly two thirds (58%) are worried or somewhat worried about how the cost-of-living crisis will affect them or their friends or families. The concern rises to 67% among people aged 35-44.

Public blame Government ahead of Autumn budget

In a stark warning for ministers ahead of the Autumn budget, the overwhelming majority of the public (69%) believe the Government is not doing enough to tackle poverty. The sentiment is even stronger in traditional ‘red wall’ constituencies, including 78% in the East Midlands and 81% in the North East. The public frustration is also higher, 80%, for those between the ages of 45 and 64.

Even more striking is that three quarters (75%) of Britons believe poverty in the UK is getting worse. This includes 81% of women and 82% of those between the ages of 45 and 64. People in skilled manual work (those in the C2 socioeconomic band), are most likely to agree with this, with 81% believing that poverty is worsening.

Jen Clark, Amnesty International UK’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, said: 

“These awful statistics pull back the curtain on the widespread poverty in the UK, the fear and precarity it causes and how many are going without the day-to-day essentials that we all have a right to.

“We are often made to feel that poverty or financial insecurity is a personal failing, but when nearly one in three people are worried they won’t be able to heat their  homes - the problem clearly lies with systematic failures of stagnant wages, inadequate social security and skyrocketing prices for essentials like food, housing and energy.

“These findings are damning for the Government. There’s   widespread consensus that they are completely out of touch and failing to address this critical issue.

“We need a fundamental political reset, one that recognises access to food, housing and warmth are human rights, and that poverty eradication must be a key priority, rather than growth alone.

“Scrapping the two-child limit and the benefit cap should be the bare minimum for the Government ahead of the Autumn Budget.”