All households will receive a £400 discount on energy bills. Image Credit: Shutterstock.
The MU welcomes today’s announcement by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak of extra help for households during the current cost of living crisis. This follows months of calls from the Labour Party and the TUC, both of which the MU is affiliated to.
All households will receive a £400 discount on energy bills and there will be further one-off payments of different amounts to the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with the lowest incomes.
Although any help is welcome, this is unlikely to fix problems for many households faced with rising inflation and interest rates as well as the energy bill explosion. MU members who face financial difficulties should contact their regional office in the first instance.
MU also responds to conclusions of the Sue Gray report
The current cost of living crisis comes only a few months after the relaxation of pandemic rules that left many musicians unable to work. The conclusions of the Sue Gray report, published yesterday are therefore particularly galling.
The MU has expressed anger at the fact that musicians struggled to make ends meet whilst Downing Street was partying.
Not only did the Government set rules which meant our members were unable to work (and then ignore these rules themselves), but they also refused to make changes to SEISS that would have allowed approximately half of our members, who were not eligible, to receive financial assistance.
We Demand Better
In light of these developments the MU will be joining the trade union movement in London to tell this government: we demand better! Members are invited to join us, assembling from 10:30 am at Portland Place in Central London on 18 June.
In addition, the TUC are also hosting local town hall rallies across the UK to support the march and the campaign for a new deal for working people. For more information on times and dates, visit the official TUC town hall rallies page.