Iqbal Mohamed

The most critical issue facing my constituents is affordability and the cost of living. The Budget should not be an annual announcement to appease markets and to protect and enrich corporations, executive shareholders, the rich and the super-rich, or even those in this place. It should not look after the wealthy at the expense of the poor; it should be about making the lives of the vast majority of people in our country better and more affordable and, for some, just bearable. I met one such person. She lives in Batley, works full time, pays her taxes and does everything that we tell people they should do. She showed me her budget and asked a question that no one in modern Britain should have to ask: “Should I pay my rent, should I pay my bills, or should I buy food?” She asked that not because she is unemployed, not because she has mismanaged her finances and not because she lacks ambition, but because the weekly shop costs more, the gas bill costs more, the rent costs more and the journey to work costs more. Everything that a human being needs to live a simple, dignified life costs much more, and her wages simply do not keep up. That is the reality of the cost of living crisis. This Budget, although there are some welcome measures, does not do anywhere near enough to make life bearable, let alone affordable, for the many by making the few contribute a bit more. We in this place earn more than £98,000. We will not feel the impact of energy prices that are 70% higher than 2020, and that will rise by 4% this month and by a quarter in January. The 60% to 70% increase in petrol and diesel prices will be a blip that will have little impact on our driving or lifestyle. Grocery prices have increased by 38.6% since 2020, according to the Commons Library, meaning that what was a weekly £100 shop now costs roughly £138.60. Car insurance rose by 82% between 2021 and 2024, and insurance premium indexes have increased by 126% since 2020. Nationally, average rents have climbed from roughly £975 a month to £1,375 a month. Too often, Ministers speak about future economic improvements, while households wonder how they will get through the next week. Parliament must take some responsibility, because our duty is not simply to debate suffering, and not merely to acknowledge hardship. It is not enough to express concern. Our duty is to act, and this Government have let the people down.