The British people suffer from high inflation, but the government finds it difficult to come up with good solutions that lose people's hearts. Life | costs | inflation

On the 22nd, the Bank of England announced a 50 basis point interest rate hike, raising the benchmark interest rate from 4.5% to 5%. This is the 13th consecutive rate hike by the Bank of England since December 2021. Since April last year, inflation in the UK has been continuously intensifying. The UK Consumer Price Index rose 8.7% year-on-year in May this year, unchanged from April but higher than market expectations of 8.4%. The core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, increased by 7.1% year-on-year, the highest since March 1992.

High inflation in the UK leads to a surge in the number of people seeking help from food banks

In response to the cost of living crisis, more and more British people are seeking help from food banks. Outside a food bank in Gillingham, Kent, UK, there is a long queue of people seeking food aid. The sustained high inflation and rising food prices have increased the burden of living, causing constant distress among the British people.

Local resident Russell Sutherland: I am a nurse, a registered nurse at a hospital.

Local resident Russell Sutherland: Yes, because my salary cannot afford rent and my basic needs.

Local resident Steven Shufu: There is always a long queue here, with hundreds of people coming each time.

The number of people seeking help from this food bank is 20 times higher than two years ago, increasing from approximately 800 people per month to 17000 people. And the situation across the UK is also the same.

According to data released by the UK Office for National Statistics on the 21st, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages in the UK increased by 18.4% year-on-year in May 2023, a decrease from the previous month but still at a high level. Over the past two weeks, approximately half of the population has reduced their food consumption. According to data from market research firm Kedu cited by the British Broadcasting Corporation on the 20th, nearly 70% of British households are "extremely" or "very" concerned about food expenses.

Helen Barnard, Policy Research Director of the Trassel Foundation in the UK: We are seeing a deterioration in poverty and hunger across the country, which is unacceptable. The public is becoming increasingly concerned, and the government should take stronger measures. Last year, we distributed nearly 3 million food aid, setting a record, more than during the most severe period of the pandemic.

The cost of living crisis in the UK has led to a surge in theft cases in convenience stores

The intensification of the cost of living crisis has also led to frequent theft cases. The UK Convenience Store Association stated that the number of theft cases experienced by convenience stores in the past year has reached a new high, due to factors such as the worsening cost of living crisis and rampant criminal gangs. The most stolen items include meat, alcohol, and candy. Many convenience stores have installed anti-theft devices in the hope of reducing the occurrence of theft cases.

The analysis pointed out that high inflation combined with the Russia-Ukraine conflict led to soaring energy prices, which pushed up the cost of living of British people, and many people had to tighten their belts to live. The ongoing cost of living crisis has sparked public dissatisfaction, and strikes in multiple industries in the UK have emerged one after another.

Public Opinion Observation Room | Inflation "High Fever Never Dies Back" UK government accused of inaction

The high fever of inflation in the UK persists, but the government has never come up with a good solution. The government's inaction has sparked public anger.

Jim McMahon, Shadow Cabinet Environment Secretary of the Labour Party in the UK: The government is either not taking any measures or acting too slowly, and we haven't seen much effect.

In January of this year, British Prime Minister Sunak promised to halve inflation by the end of this year. In that month, the inflation rate in the UK was 10.1%, but in May, the inflation rate remained as high as 8.7%. The Guardian pointed out that although Sunak still has six months to work hard to achieve his set goals, this goal now looks like a gamble.

Political commentator Andy Preston: I think Sunak has already failed, or is about to fail.

Sky News commented that reducing inflation has become a "political nightmare" for the ruling Conservative Party. At the same time, as the Bank of England continues to raise interest rates to curb inflation, concerns about the UK economy falling into recession are also increasing.

"Having money for war but not enough to provide nutrition for children"

Although the domestic inflation is "high" and the people are deeply trapped in the cost of living crisis, the British government is still fuelling the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The so-called Ukraine Reconstruction Conference was held in London, UK from the 21st to the 22nd local time. Sunak announced a long-term support for Ukraine at the meeting, while also claiming to continue imposing sanctions on Russia.

The UK government's disregard for domestic livelihoods while fueling conflicts has also sparked criticism from netizens. "Perhaps the UK should stop supporting a conflict that has nothing to do with them. Charity should start at home." "Continue to provide funding to Ukraine, but don't care about its own people." "Money is used for war, but not for providing good nutrition for children."