As mass strikes hit the nation, UK’s finance minister unveils the new cost-of-living budget. Here’s everything you need to know.
UK: What is the new cost-of-living budget?
On Wednesday, Britain’s finance minister unveiled a cost-of-living budget. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt shared the plan with the parliament as civil servants, junior doctors, teachers, Tube drivers, and BBC journalists stage the newest walkouts. The government is seeking to have a grip on the face of a new wave of strikes over pay. Additionally, the government is expected to confirm plans to entice people who left their jobs.
“Reports of senior doctors retiring early due to the impact of pension tax allowances. They have undoubtedly been of particular concern to the government given the pressures already on the health system following the pandemic,” stated Tom Selby. Selby is the bead of retirement policy at AJ Bell. “However, both the lifetime and annual allowance apply across all types of private pensions and so this announcement would increase the retirement savings limits for millions of Brits,” he added.
More on the crisis
Workers from both the public and private sectors show little to no signs of ending the strike action that began last year since the inflation slashed the value of pay. It is also looking to fill over 1.1 million vacancies. They were created by the record number of people terms as long-term sick and the lack of EU workers after Brexit.
In addition to the concerns over pay, health staff is protesting against overwork due to the labor shortage. On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of doctors below consultant levels are expected to strike. As per the UK PM Rishi Sunak‘s spokesperson, the conservative government was hoping to work with unions and achieve “fair and reasonable” rises. “But we’ve been clear that we want to see strike action end before we do so,” he explained. Additionally, on Monday, Britain expressed its plans for bolstering its security and military budget. These are to contend with “epoch-defining challenges” posed by China and Russia.