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 large movement against the high cost of living “Don’t Pay” continues to gain momentum, encouraging citizens to stop paying their bills.
In the UK, regulated gas and electricity prices will rise by 80% from October. It can cost Britons up to £3,500 a year. In an already extremely tense context, more than 10% inflation across the channel, the huge strike movement against the high cost of living “Don’t pay” is organizing a large demonstration this Friday evening in front of the UK energy regulator. As the name suggests, “Don’t Pay” encourages citizens to stop paying their bills.
Increasing concern as winter approaches
Julia joined the “Don’t Pay” movement as soon as it appeared. Since then, in her city of Sheffield in northern 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’ve been told that already this winter, people are coming just to get warm. Others have told me that they no longer cook hot dishes for their children for dinner to avoid using the gas. She makes sandwiches.”
More than 110,000 people have backed “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 with 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 the government will act before it comes to that.