Huddersfield residents have hit back on figures claiming that the town has not been the worst hit by the cost-of-living crisis. Many households throughout Huddersfield have been left with major financial difficulties, due to the cost-of-living crisis, which has ravaged the British economy over the past eight months. The cost-of-living crisis needs no introduction, if you can breathe then you have been negatively impacted by Liz Truss’s short lived, but nevertheless troublesome term as prime minister.
Resident of Huddersfield and former factory worker, Antony Whitehead, claims to be still experiencing financial issues. “I am earning more money than I was last year,” he said. “So, it is hard to say, but last year was hard with gas and electricity prices doubling down and food prices going through the roof, and not having any spare money, after having all that to pay.” This is just one account of how the cost-of-living crisis has affected the people of Huddersfield.
Despite families in Huddersfield struggling to feed themselves in recent few months, figures from the Centre for Economic and Business Research claim that Huddersfield came low down on the list of towns worst affected by the financial crisis. The town came an admirable third place out of the cities studied by the Centre for economic and business research. However, even though the town has come out of the economic crisis relatively unscathed, when compared to other cities throughout the UK, some of Huddersfield’s resident businesses have had to close.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer vowed in March to take action on the crisis if his party is elected. He said: “Labour would tackle the cost-of-living crisis. We’d deliver a proper windfall tax on oil and gas profits to stop energy prices rising now, and build homegrown, clean power to keep bills low in the long-term.” Prospects of Labour taking power at the next general election seem decidedly low, in spite of Labour’s gains in the recent local elections.
This comes as thousands have criticized the Conservatives’ handling of the UK’s economy, with many saying it has been a massive burden for many households throughout the UK. As a result, support and esteem for the Conservative party is at the lowest it has been in years, with the Conservatives’ usual supporters considering deserting the party.