Cutting back on essentials, concerns about rent and mortgage payments and fears of energy bills arrears are at the top of the list of worries for residents in Oldham as new data reveals the borough is at the tipping point of a deep crisis.
Analysis by the national campaign group, 38 Degrees, shows a staggering number of Oldham residents are fearing the worst over the next 12 months as the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy bills risk plunging people into homelessness and debt.
The group commissioned Survation, a polling and market research agency, to run an MRP poll to map the "devastating consequences" of the government's mini-budget on people across the country's 632 constituencies.
In the parliamentary constituencies Oldham West and Royton and Oldham East and Saddleworth, the figures reveal the cost of essential items such as groceries is the top concern with an average 60.5 per cent of people fearing they will have to make cutbacks.
Following this, an average 59.5 per cent of residents in the two constituencies are worried they will not be able to afford their energy bills in the next year.
The affordability of housing is also a key concern for Oldhamers.
Nearly half (42 per cent) are worried they won’t be able to afford their rent or mortgage and one in three (30.5 per cent) fear they won’t be able to get a mortgage or remortgage their home.
Just shy of one in three (29 per cent) are worried they will be made homeless, though the data differs between the two constituencies.
In Oldham West and Royton, 32 per cent are worried they will be made homeless while 26 per cent share the same concern in Oldham East and Saddleworth.
Meanwhile, pensioners in the two constituencies are worried their pension is at risk (37 per cent) and 32 per cent of people said they might have to resort to a foodbank in the coming year.
The full data set of concerns per each constituency can be seen in this graph here:
Matthew McGregor, chief executive at 38 Degrees, said: "The cost of living crisis is rapidly turning into a cost of living catastrophe, and these figures bring home what that actually means for families across Oldham.
“Too many people are already turning to foodbanks to feed their children, are unable to pay their bills and or even facing homelessness - and these are all very real fears for many, many more.
"Liz Truss says her £43bn in unfunded tax cuts will ‘grow the pie’, but ordinary people already have less food to put on their tables, and it’s going to get even worse."
Mr McGregor added: “The Government must rip up its disastrous mini-budget and replace it with a proper plan to rescue struggling families - both in Oldham and across the country.”
Jim McMahon, Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton, said: “Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng have crashed the economy and it is working people in Chadderton, Oldham & Royton who are paying the price.
"Rather than helping these people, the Tories have decided to prioritise tax cuts for the rich and the idea that nearly two thirds of constituents fear they won’t be able to afford their energy bills and a third fear homelessness and resorting to food banks is a disgrace.
"They must do the right thing and reverse this kamikaze budget to stop the spiralling concerns and worries for working people.”
A Treasury spokesperson said: “Countries around the world are facing rising costs, driven by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, and we know this is affecting people here in the UK.
“That is why we have taken decisive actions to hold down bills with the Energy Price Guarantee, which will save the average household £1000 a year for the next two years.
“In addition, eight million of the most vulnerable households will get at least £1,200 of additional cost-of-living support this year – meaning they will be eligible for support which exceeds the average rise in energy bills by hundreds of pounds.
“And we’ve cut taxes for everyone, including changes to Universal Credit to help working households keep more of what they earn.”
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