More than half of people think going out to a pub or restaurant was now unaffordable for, according to recent polling from More in Common.<\/p>\n
Cooper said: “People are working with their nose to the grindstone all month and have next to nothing left over after sky-high bills and spiralling food prices.<\/p>\n
“In years gone by people knew they could look forward to fish and chips with their family on a Friday night or a weekend trip to the cinema. <\/p>\n
“Now those small joys \u2013 the ones that make life worth living \u2013 are becoming an unaffordable luxury for too many.”<\/p>\n
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to break Labour’s manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, VAT or National Insurance in her Budget later this month, and has suggested she will ditch the two child benefit cap.<\/p>\n
She is not expected to cut VAT. The Treasury has been contacted for a response to the Lib Dem policy proposal.<\/p>\n
The Lib Dems are also calling on the chancellor to cut energy bills by about \u00a390 a year through axing the main renewables levy, which she claimed would bring energy bills down to the second lowest level since the energy crisis began in 2022.<\/p>\n
The Liberal Democrats say their two-pronged approach could be put in place immediately for the next 18 months and would save the average family \u00a3270 a month between now and April 2027.<\/p>\n
The package would cost \u00a312bn, the party said, with the VAT cut costing \u00a37.5bn and replacing the current renewables obligation levy \u00a34.5bn. <\/p>\n
The windfall tax on big banks is estimated to bring in about \u00a37bn a year to the Treasury.<\/p>\n