Anaïs Cordoba, edited by Ophélie Artaud
In the UK, regulated gas and electricity prices will increase by 80%. Added to this is inflation, which reaches 10% in the country. In this context, the vast movement against the high cost of living “Don’t pay” continues to gain momentum and encourage citizens to stop paying their bills.
In the United Kingdom, from October, regulated gas and electricity prices will rise by 80%. It could cost the British up to 3,500 pounds a year. In an already extremely tense context, more than 10% inflation on the other side of the Channel, the vast strike movement against the high cost of living “Don’t pay” is organizing a large rally this Friday evening in front of the British regulator of energy. As its name suggests, “Don’t pay” encourages citizens to stop paying their bills.
Growing concern as winter approaches
Julia joined the “Don’t pay” movement as soon as it appeared. Since then, in her city of Sheffield, in the north of England, she has been trying to convince as many people as possible to join them. And she is impressed by the extent of the concern around her. “We have been told that already this winter, people are coming just to be warm. Other people have told me that they no longer cook hot meals for their children at dinner so as not to have to use the gas. She’s making sandwiches.”
More than 110,000 people have supported “Don’t pay” and say they are ready to stop paying their energy bills. Today, some of them will demonstrate in London, in front of the headquarters of the regulator of gas and electricity prices.
This is the case of Glenn. “The stakes are high. We have to show that we ordinary people are not going to sit idly by while these companies destroy our quality of life and our planet. Otherwise, I fear things will get worse.” Julia and Glen aren’t afraid of the consequences of stopping paying their bills, but hope that the government will act before it has to come to that.