Enough is Enough campaign: Manchester Cathedral to host rally against soaring cost of living

Campaign group Enough is Enough is bringing its efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis to Manchester.

The group is holding a sold-out event at Manchester Cathedral with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Labour MPs and trade union leaders all among those scheduled to speak.

The campaign has five demands to make it easier for people to cope with spiralling bills and to ensure that it is not the poorest in society who have to make sacrifices and suffer as prices soar.

It has now picked up a high-profile local supporter in Mr Burnham, who said that “Westminster needs to wake up” over the issue.

When is the Manchester rally and what is happening?

Enough is Enough is bringing its campaign for action on the cost of living to Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday 30 August.

Doors will open at 7pm and tickets have already sold out. However, an overspill meeting is being provided outside for those who have been unable to secure a seat. You can find out more about the event here.

Mr Burnham is on the list of speakers along with Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Dave Ward, transport union the RMT’s senior assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey, Labour MP Zarah Sultana and Unison president Andrea Egan.

What is Enough is Enough and what are its demands?

Enough is Enough has been formed by trade unions, opposition politicians and community groups to fight against the cost of living crisis.

It plans to hold rallies across the country, show support for workers on strike and on the picket line and take action against the companies, organisations and individuals it claims are responsible for wealth inequality and the struggle many people currently face.

The organisation has outlined five key demands:

• A real pay rise, with a pathway to the minimum wage being raised to £15 an hour, public-sector wage rises and pensions and benefits increases above inflation.

• Slash energy bills, with the October price cap hike cancelled and replaced with the pre-April price cap of £1,277 per year and support for bringing energy firms into public ownership.

• End food poverty, by introducing universal free school meals, community kitchens, and reinstating the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift.

• Homes for all, with rents capped, plans pushed through to build 100,000 or more council houses a year, a programme to insulate homes created, right-to-buy scrapped and a charter for renters’ rights introduced. It also says mortgage repayments should be capped for at-risk homeowners and proposes limits on holiday homes and AirbnB.

• Tax the rich, with the introduction of a wealth tax, raising taxes on corporate profits and the top 5% of earners, closing tax loopholes, abolishing non-dom status, increasing capital gains tax, and introducing new taxes on speculation. The organisation also wants to reverse the recent National Insurance increase.

What has been said about the Manchester event?

Mr Burnham said: “At a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing, profits from big energy producers are at record highs and our national infrastructure is crumbling, Britain needs a pay rise and a plan to get us out of this crisis.

“Westminster needs to wake up and recognise the problems working people face in this country today, and provide some real answers. Enough is enough.”

The Government has introduced various payments to help people struggling with living costs, including £400 off bills for all domestic energy customers, but a YouGov poll out today found three-quarters of Britons surveyed - and two thirds of Conservative voters - say the government is not doing enough to help people struggling with the cost of living.