The Chancellor has suggested those earning around £45,000 annually could struggle to cope with soaring living costs as households prepare for another painful price hike over the winter.
Nadhim Zahawi said things will be “really hard” for middle-earners, as well as society’s most vulnerable, as the energy price cap is set to rise by 80% by October, pushing the average household’s yearly bill up from £1,971 to £3,549.
Industry regulator Ofgem warned the Government it must act urgently to “match the scale of the crisis we have before us” as Britain faced the bleak news on Friday.
Papers
With this at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the newspapers have focused on the financial storm ahead.
The newspapers are dominated by the 80.06% rise in the energy price cap for around 24 million households, sending the average household’s yearly bill from £1,971 to £3,549.
The Independent covers the news by saying Britain is facing a “dark winter ahead”.
Indepdendent Digital: Britain’s faces up to a dark winter ahead #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/C95fp9mYfI
— George Mann 🫧⚒️🫧 (@sgfmann) August 26, 2022
FT Weekend adds the leap will send millions into poverty.
Just published: front page of FT Weekend, UK edition, Saturday 27 August https://t.co/cY33MRAejp pic.twitter.com/I2N39CgGon
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) August 26, 2022
“Energy bills hit £3,500 with worst yet to come,” says The Times.
Times: Energy bills hit £3,500 with worst yet to come #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/3R1QseMFcj
— George Mann 🫧⚒️🫧 (@sgfmann) August 26, 2022
The Guardian covers the “winter catastrophe of rising energy bills” with an ominous warning from consumer champion Martin Lewis that “lives will be lost” as he condemned inaction by ministers.
Guardian front page, Saturday 27 August 2022: ‘Lives will be lost’ pic.twitter.com/gSugh9ZcQj
— The Guardian (@guardian) August 26, 2022
The Daily Mail has more warnings for consumers – with economists telling the paper up to six million Brits could have their savings completely wiped out by the increase.
Saturday’s @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/9kYKanb80f
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) August 26, 2022
The Daily Telegraph‘s splash features an interview with the Chancellor in which he says the middle class will also need help to cover their energy bills.
🗞️ The front page of tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph:
‘Middle class need energy bills help, says Zahawi’#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4O6L2Y pic.twitter.com/REdAxuQyxB
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 26, 2022
The Daily Mirror carries a message to leaders over the energy bills crisis, telling them: “For heaven’s sake, do something.”
Saturday’s front page – Do something #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/GTcVTbvNna pic.twitter.com/cIoWVC0Ndo
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 26, 2022
The Daily Express offers up a promise from the outgoing PM, Boris Johnson, that a “pipeline of cash” is on the way to help struggling families.
Front page: Boris: ‘Pipeline of cash’ on way to ease bills pain#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/QBHV1490lh pic.twitter.com/Xs0GbxDW9e
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) August 26, 2022
Tory frontrunner Liz Truss has done a “U-turn on energy handout”, reports i Weekend, but it adds six million will still lose their savings.
Saturday’s iweekend front page: Truss U-turn on energy handout – but 6 million will lose savings#TomorrowsPapersToday
🔴Latest from @RichardVaughan1: https://t.co/MvyssoSEVt pic.twitter.com/B6b5xowUyU
— i newspaper (@theipaper) August 26, 2022
Elsewhere, The Sun claims Ryan Giggs’ ex partner was left “traumatised” after three men stole her £80,000 car.
On tomorrow’s front page: Ryan Giggs’ ex Stacey left ‘traumatised’ after three masked men raced off in her £80,000 motor while at homehttps://t.co/yA7YysEVEX pic.twitter.com/G9DYWR37iN
— The Sun (@TheSun) August 26, 2022
And the Daily Star has Ozzy Osbourne claiming his Hollywood home is haunted.
Saturday’s front page is a bit spoooky 👻 #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/im8ckIoXFw pic.twitter.com/Ymq9wvSMo5
— Daily Star (@dailystar) August 26, 2022
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