People in Northern Ireland are facing a devastating cost of living crisis. A perfect storm of spiralling energy costs, rising national insurance costs and cuts to Universal Credit all mean that families, single parents and workers are facing difficult decisions about how they will put food on the table and heat their homes.

This crisis has arrived just as families and communities begin the long recovery from COVID-19 and its devastating impact.

The eye-watering increases in electricity and gas prices have dealt the latest blow to the consumers of Northern Ireland as major firms continue to announce high price hikes that will leave the most vulnerable among us struggling to make ends meet. Sadly, the government departments responsible for supporting families facing these challenges seem to be focused on inaction instead of action.

This crisis has been compounded by the cruel Universal Credit cut introduced by the Tories and rubberstamped by the Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

Families deserve better than this. Inaction is not an option.

That is why the SDLP is releasing our six-point Cost of Living Action Plan that would make a real difference to people across the North. 

Click below to read through our Cost of Living Action Plan: