FAMILIES, workers and pensioners in Harlow to benefit as Labour’s next wave of cost of living action comes into force

The second wave of Labour’s cost of living measures came into force on Monday 6th April benefitting families, workers and pensioners up and down the country, including in Harlow.

As the period of international instability continues, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is working with allies in a continued push to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East and bring down pressure on prices.

And at home, he and his Labour Government are focused on supporting families and easing the cost of living, putting the British people first with new policies aimed at getting money back into people’s pockets.

Thanks to Labour’s decisions at the last Budget, the following measures will come into force from today:
The two-child limit will be removed – a move that is expected to benefit 3,160 children, that’s 870 families in Harlow, and lift 450,000 children out of poverty across the country

The state pension will be increased by 4.8% – reaching up to £241.30 per week for 17,756 in Harlow (an increase of up to £575 a year)

Workers will get Statutory Sick Pay rights from day one of employment
Workers will also get day one entitlement to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave

Universal Credit standard allowances will increase by 2.3% more than inflation – benefitting 683,062 in the East of England.

The measures follow a raft of other policies coming into force on 1st April, showing Labour is on the side of the British people.

They include an average cut to energy bills of £117 a year, increases to both the National Living Wage – a £900 pay rise for full time workers – and the National Minimum Wage – a boost of £1,500 for over 200,000 young workers, and the start of the £1 billion Crisis & Resilience Fund to support vulnerable households with things like heating oil.

Chris Vince, MP for Harlow, said: “I know the cost-of-living pressures that my constituents face and the impact on their family finances. They rightly want a government that will support them. Today’s measures show how determined Labour is to do just that, helping families, workers and pensioners to secure more money in their pockets and more rights to protect them at work. I am proud to be part of this Labour Government that continues to deliver on the change we promised.”

Reform are not on the side of working people – they want to push half a million children back into poverty to pay for a tax cut for foreign billionaires – and the Greens have the wrong answers to tackle the issues working people face. Only Labour is delivering the credible solutions to ease the cost of living, get our NHS back on its feet, and show pride in our communities.