Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was challenged over the cost of living pressures affecting the nation, including a woman called Nikki, from Cornwall.
Presenter Jon Kay said: “She works as a carer, she’s on £10.15 an hour and her kitchen is in darkness this week.
“She can’t afford a light bulb for the kitchen until her daughter gets paid next week. She’s working in social care.
“It’s hard to believe that to the UK in 2023, isn’t it?”
Kay told Sunak: “You were the Chancellor, you’ve been Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Now you’re Prime Minister. I mean, your fingerprints are all over this economy, aren’t they?”
Sunak then replied: “I’m actually proud that one of the things we did after I became Prime Minister was make some difficult decisions elsewhere, for example, decided to tax the profits of the largest companies more given the circumstances we’re in.”
Afford a lightbulb
The presenter then interrupted: “But when you have someone who can’t afford a lightbulb…”
Sunak hit back saying: “If you just let me explain what we’re trying to do to help. We’re using that money to help people in those circumstances we’re actually putting more money into social care in particular.”
However, Kay pressed the issue of Nikki’s desperate situation and the PM said: “I want to make sure that we are helping Nikki and Nikki should know we’re putting billions of pounds more into social care everywhere, and that will help make sure that she can be well paid.
“We’re making sure that Nikki’s energy bill is is taken care of by the Government to the tune of about £1500.
“That’s really helpful for those on the lowest pay, they’re gonna get about 1400 and for those on welfare, for example, and again, I don’t know Nikki’s situation, I don’t know whether she’s on Universal Credit or not. If she was she’s gonna receive direct help this year of £900.”
Video
BBC’s Ros Atkins shared the video and wrote: “In our Panorama on the UK economy, we heard from a woman in Cornwall called Nicky – who couldn’t afford to replace a broken lightbulb until the next pay day. @jonkay01 asked the Prime Minister about Nicky’s situation on @BBCBreakfast this morning. This is the exchange.”
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Related: Watch: Mick Lynch let’s rip about budget & calls out presenter
