Interactive map reveals Wirral's cost-of-living struggles

Campaign group 38 degrees has created the map to highlight the concerns of hundreds of people across the UK in housing, energy bills and food poverty.

As the government's Autumn budget announced huge public spending cuts to tackle the financial crisis yesterday (November, 17), the map shows the real-life impact on people struggling to cope.

A total of ten contributions have been pinned on the interactive map, from people across the region.

The contributions range from pensioners to single parents.

The contributions from people across Wirral (Image: 38 Degrees)

"It's really making me depressed."

Raine Kenny, from Wallasey, is over 60 and works in retail.

She said: "Never thought that being in my 60s it would be like this. Thought it would be a more comfortable and relaxed life but it's clearly not for many of us."

Christine House, 52, from Wallasey, worked in administration before she became too ill to work.

She added: "We are struggling with paying utility bills and buying food, it's really making me depressed to be in such a fragile situation."

Judith Lally, also from Wallasey, is a mum with two children.

She said: "I'm living day to day, but dreading tomorrow. The landlord is selling our house, so we are considered to be homeless."

READ > House prices in Wirral increase to a average of £213k

Gordon Hodgson, 69, from Birkenhead is a retired NHS Worker.

He said: "I live in Housing Association Flat. Rent not due to be re-registered until April 2023 but energy prices and electricity costs are punishing and affecting my savings."

"I'm angry and disgusted."

Stephanie Piercy, 34, from Birkenhead, is a single mother with two children.

She explained: "I won’t be able to heat our home during the cold months due to the rising costs. Energy should be capped and brought back to public ownership."

Alex Rumsey, 38, from Birkenhead, is a salesman with one child.

He added: "I'm having to choose between eating and heating or travelling by car from location to location for work purposes, which in turn has a knock-on effect on the amount of money I can earn! I'm not happy - in fact I'm angry and disgusted."

Georgina Parker, 81, from Birkenhead, is a retired pensioner.

She said: "I'm very worried to how I’m going to eat and heat my home. I need a liveable pension now I’m on my own."

Joanne Poole, 50, from Wallasey, is a single barmaid with two students.

She said: "I am so scared of how I will afford to keep warm and run my household. Companies should not be allowed to make such a huge profit at our expense."

Anne Cavanagh-Adams, 81, is from Wallasey.

She added: "I am terrified about the awful winter we will have with all the expenses etc. We need help from the Government at the very least."

Andrew Gibson, 45 from Wallasey, is a single Dad with two children.

He said: "Massive worry over spiraling costs and huge decrease in disposable income. As a business owner with variable monthly incomings, it is petrifying."

Autumn budget

In his autumn budget statement in the House of Commons yesterday (November, 17), Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “In the face of unprecedented global headwinds, families, pensioners, businesses, teachers, nurses and many others are worried about the future.

“So today we deliver a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy.

“Our priorities are stability, growth, and public services.

“We also protect the vulnerable because to be British is to be compassionate and this is a compassionate Conservative government.”

"The autumn budget has done nothing" to help Wirral constituents. 

Mick Whitley, MP for Birkenhead, said: “The government’s autumn statement was a classic exercise in smoke and mirrors – the Chancellor made all sorts of claims about how he was protecting the vulnerable and the NHS and sharing out the burden of tax increases.

"This budget is full of stealth taxes on my poorest constituents and tax breaks for the bankers. No cap on bankers’ bonus or closing the loopholes for equity hedge fund managers. And behind the façade of ‘financial responsibility’ claimed by Jeremy Hunt lies a grim reality for working people and so many of my constituents who are staring destitution in the face.

"The autumn budget has done nothing to help the 1359 Birkenhead constituents who have had to go to Citizens Advice for debt advice over the last 12 months.

"Between September and October 2022, Wirral Foodbank distributed 2,367 emergency food parcels, including 857 for children, an increase of 57% on the same period last year – 10% of this total are in work.

"How does pushing them into the new tax brackets and increasing their national insurance payments help them.

"The budget is an indictment of the entire legacy of the Tory government from 2010 to today. The people of Birkenhead deserve better.”