If the rest of Europe can protect the poorest from rising bills, why can’t Britain? – Rishi Sunak might learn from politicians on the continent, where the vulnerable are being insulated from the worst effects of soaring energy costs

35 comments

  3. Something something about taxes… something Brexit… something the EU is going to collapse something something what about Corbyn?

  5. You want the answer? Well it’s because unlike most of Europe all our national infrastructure is owned by for profit companies (most hilariously most is owned by other countries nationalised energy firms, eg EDF) who are beholden to no one but shareholders when operating in the UK and hence only give a shit about how much money they can squeeze out of us.

  8. Other counties in Europe as a whole seem to invest in in their people. Our politicians seem to seem them as a for profit commodity to bolster their own personal wealth.

    If any one has any doubts about this, look at the way Centrica’s profits have doubled in the last 6 months.

  9. It’s clear that Rishi shunak sees being chancellor as a part time consultancy job that’s an annoyance to his real working life.

  10. I’m from Ireland and our government does fuck all to protect us from rising bills. One TD suggested we take shorter showers to deal with the increase in electric prices

  15. The worst thing that could happen to this government is for the British people to realise how much better living standards are in some European countries

  16. I really don’t understand the obsession with thinking the continent is a land of milk and honey.

    I’m not saying we’re doing it better, or saying we are doing everything right (in fact I disagree with Sunak’s approach) but the idea the continent has it under control is hilarious.

    The article starts with a comparison to Germany, a country so reliant on Russian gas that it basically caused the war in Ukraine. Germany doesn’t have a price cap on energy, gas or water, unlike the UK.

    It says Germany has been giving more benefits this year. That’s great. UK gave more benefits last year (if it were the reverse the article would call this being proactive). £500 increase to the work allowance. UC taper rate reduced to 55% from 63%. An average yearly increase of £1000 for those on UC.

    It moves onto France, a country so discontent with current cost of living, among other things, that it’s 50/50 on whether they elect a fascist president by the end of the month.

    Italy, also heavily reliant on Russian gas, isn’t much better off economically. The divides between the north and south of the country are arguably worse than England.

    The article says France and Italy are requiring energy companies to sell at a loss – something the UK has been doing as well, resulting in many providers simply going bust.

    Energy tax cuts seen in these countries are unlikely to help the very poorest, as much of the incidence goes to the companies and the poorest don’t consume a lot.

    We’ve seen a big tax cut on petrol, which has admittedly effected prices, but realistically a lot of the savings will go to the companies.

    The article mentions Ireland doing great, yet on this thread there’s someone from Ireland saying their government is doing jack shit.

    Of course if you take all the best policies from 30 bloody countries, combine them all without considering the affordability of all the policies combined, then the continent looks great. But that’s a silly and fundamentally flawed analysis.
    .

  19. Its not just bills they need to kerb its greedy retailers hammering on the excuse to increase prices.

    Visited a large retailer yesterday for bike part £37 in their online store demanding £68 suddenly at the till.

  20. It can, those in power are choosing not to. Which is essentially the same choice they always make.
    Voty tory get tories. If its bothering you convince people who you know vote way to do otherwise.

  23. Because it might make their rich mates, worry about buying the £7k carbon ceramic brakes option on a new Mercedes.

  24. Rishi Sunak won’t learn because he doesn’t care. He sees how it is being done in Europe but knows that way won’t net him and his mates more money.

  25. This is simply a choice by the government, they don’t care about the poor of this country…they voted against feeding kids, that’s the type of people in charge. They constantly break the law, lie, gaslight the nation and somehow have become untouchable…IF we ever get them out and a new government in place, I want some kind of regulation or something appointed that is above them, lie to the public, lie in Parliament, claim stupid expenses etc you’re fired. No excuses. They need to understand they work for us, not the billionaire corporations or Russia.

  26. Nothing was done to help those in receipt of benefits who are unemployed or unable to work.

    On top of the £20 uplift coming to an end, there’s now an extra tenner a week to be found for fuel.

    A lot of people simply just don’t have that – more people are going to be pushed into places they shouldn’t be. Malnutrition, illness, suicide, crime. The knock on effect on society is shocking and what’s more shocking is that it’s avoidable and nothing is being done.

  28. Because they don’t give a fuck. Stop expecting politicians to care. They only care about their pockets and the pockets of their billionaire ‘friends’.

  29. I need citations on this because while some nations are doing stuff most of Europe is doing the same as the UK not very much. The UK is actually lower then average on inflation in Europe

  32. The Tori ideology is against socialist programs. We can, we just need to kick the Conservative government out. Which we can, but we won’t.

  35. Sorry but Germany doing more to wean themselves off fossil fuels?

    They just reopened a fucking coal fired power plant and still have 45GW of power produced that way.

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