Tory Highlights Rising Cost of Living

John Baron MP today warns that the cost of living is rising faster than many families’ incomes, and criticises the Government’s way of measuring inflation and its tax increases. His revelations come as the Government publishes details of new council tax bills from April which show that the Band D bill for Basildon District will hit £1,478 – up 118% since 1997.

John said: “Although Gordon Brown claims that official inflation is running at 2.5%, new research reveals the extent to which the weekly household shop, energy bills and council tax are rising much faster. The government is clearly out of touch with what’s going on in the real world.

“Meanwhile, the government is piling on the misery with an extra £110 of taxes a year in the Budget for the average family." Although he concedes that the government cannot control the cost of living directly, he makes the point that it can avoid making it worse by controlling the taxes people are required to pay.

He has revealed that since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister nine months ago:
· The price of butter has increased by 37%
· The price of a dozen eggs increased by 34%
· The price of a loaf of bread increased by 28%
· The price of flour increased by 22%
· The price of a pint of milk increased by 17%
· The price of cheese increased by 17%
· The price of a sack of potatoes increased by 11%
· Gas and fuel prices have increased by 10%
· Petrol prices have increased by 8%.