Barnsley East MP, Stephanie Peacock, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to express ‘deep concern’ about the impact of the rising cost of living on Barnsley East residents.

This April, working families in Barnsley are due to become £1,200 worse-off overnight, as the Government increases taxation, and the energy price cap is raised again.

As a result, Ms Peacock has called on the chancellor to take ‘urgent’ steps to support residents in the months to come.

Unlike the Government, Labour have published a plan to help reduce costs for families in April.

The plan would save most households around £200 or more, with targeted extra support for pensioners and the lowest earners seeing some save up to £600.

This fully funded measure would be paid for by a one-off windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas producers who have profited from price rises.

The MP commented:

‘Rocketing energy bills and tax increases are having a huge impact on household budgets.

‘The Government have the ability to step in and take action to help local people, and that’s what I’m calling on the Chancellor to do.’