Britain’s biggest council has declared a cost of living emergency as new Prime Minister Liz Truss prepared to unveil her plans to tackle rising fuel costs and inflation.
Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward told today’s cabinet meeting that the crisis was ‘on a par with the pandemic’.
He added: ‘It is my intention for the council to declare a cost of living emergency, to prepare the organisation for a rapid deployment of resource to assist individuals, households and our business community.’
The city, which has a child poverty rate of 43%, is the latest in a long line of councils to declare an emergency. It comes as the incoming Prime Minister is excepted to announce a range of measures to tackle rising costs, including an energy price freeze and an emergency Budget.
Cllr Ward told his cabinet: ‘The last two and a half years brought some of the most challenging times that Birmingham has ever faced and sadly there are more difficult times ahead. But we are a resilient city and a resourceful set of people. We will get through this.'
This article was originally published by The MJ (£).
