Rabina Khan is a writer and a former councillor and special adviser in the UK House of Lords
June 02, 2022
Jonathan Brearley, the chief executive of Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulatory body, recently announced that his organisation is expecting an energy price cap of £2,800 in October, an increase from the current £1,971. Adam Scorer, chief executive of charity National Energy Action, said the predicted rise will "strike terror into the hearts of millions of people who are already unable to heat their homes".
European countries obtain approximately 40 per cent of their gas directly from Russia, while the UK imports less than 5 per cent of its gas from Russia, but its prices are nonetheless influenced by fluctuations in global markets. The UK also imports approximately 8 per cent of its oil from Russia, amounting to £4 billion in 2021. These prices have soared as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Western governments’ subsequent economic ordeals. In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that “unfriendly countries” pay for their gas in roubles from Russian accounts to avoid having their supplies cut off. Gas deliveries have already been suspended to Finland for their refusals to pay in the currency.
It is not just energy prices that have risen exponentially, but food prices, too. Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil and is also a major producer of maize and wheat. The UN Food Prices Index, which measures the average prices of staple foods, reported that food prices are at their highest in 60 years, when records began.
East End resident Rachel who was diagnosed with cancer and who also cares for her severely disabled son with a spinal injury is struggling with the cost of food. She said: “How are we supposed to eat with food costs rising not by a penny but by 80 per cent? We are eating the bare minimum and living on basic food, which affects my health and that of my son. Luckily it's summer so I don’t use the lights. In the late evening I don’t turn on the lights and if I watch TV I use that as the light. I’m charging up my key meter to over £120 a month for me and my son – and that’s just electricity. I’m paying more for gas because I need to keep warm, even in the summer, due to our medical problems. I can’t bear to think how we are going to keep warm when the cold weather arrives.”
The UK's prime minister, Boris Johnson, is facing calls to step down over the "partygate" scandal. Reuters
Rachel and her son are just one of many thousands of families across the UK who cannot afford to eat. A survey by YouGov, a leading pollster, suggests that of the 10,674 adults questioned, one in seven were living in homes where people have skipped meals or reduced sizes due to expense. The Office for National Statistics reported that almost 90 per cent of households stated that their cost of living had increased in March as a result of rises in fuel, food and borrowing costs.
The cost of living crisis is all about survival. Millions of households have been plunged into debt, leaving many at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods, and affecting their mental and physical wellbeing. Dr Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians said: “The cost of living crisis has barely begun, so the fact that one in two are already experiencing worsening health should sound alarm bells, especially at a time when our health service is under more pressure than ever before.”
Earlier this month, Tory MP Lee Anderson – who earns £84,144 – said he had proven that people can make meals for 30 pence, demeaning the struggles of British families. Boris Johnson’s Government has been heavily criticised by all sides of the political spectrum, including some Tory MPs, for his catastrophic failure to address the escalating cost of living in the UK.
The question is why should a family in Britain go to such lengths to survive when the Conservative government breaks Covid-19 rules that they created, while lecturing poor families to live within their means?
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer visits a food bank in Glasgow. Getty
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey was the first party leader to call for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies over seven months ago, demanding that their excess profits help vulnerable people with spiralling energy bills. Even Tory MP Julian Knight said the Prime Minister needs to “wake up” and listen to his party on tackling the rising cost of energy. Engulfed in its own “partygate” Covid-19 rule-breaking saga, the Prime Minister and his Chancellor scrambled to announce a new package of emergency measures on Thursday, which intends to target pensioners, the poorest and the “squeezed middle” households.
The UK’s increasing cost of living crisis has been caused by multiple issues occurring simultaneously, including Brexit, Covid-19, the Ukraine crisis, rising taxes and inflation, all of which have impacted the price of essential items and services pushing people into poverty.
They say that we should look for opportunities out of crises. It's time for the UK Government to stop doing so. It is time to look for opportunities to take our struggling children and young people, our families, our older citizens and all our communities out of this fear of whether we turn the lights on or not, whether we keep warm and what we eat. To the UK government I say: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
