'Can't afford a lightbulb': Watch Rishi Sunak cornered on UK economic crisis

Rishi Sunak On UK Economy: Rishi Sunak was asked about the cost of living crisis in the UK using the example of a woman named Nikki from Cornwall.

UK PM Rishi Sunak was confronted during an interview by a story of a woman who has been forced to sit in the dark because she can't afford a lightbulb amid economic crisis in the country. Talking to BBC Breakfast, Rishi Sunak was asked about the cost of living crisis in the UK using the example of a woman named Nikki from Cornwall.

BBC Presenter Jon Kay said: "She works as a carer, she's on £10.15 an hour and her kitchen is in darkness this week. She can't afford a light bulb for the kitchen until her daughter gets paid next week. She's working in social care.

“It's hard to believe that to the UK in 2023, isn't it? You were the Chancellor, you've been Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Now you're Prime Minister. I mean, your fingerprints are all over this economy, aren't they?,” the presenter added.

To this Rishi Sunak replied, “I'm actually proud that one of the things we did after I became Prime Minister was make some difficult decisions elsewhere, for example, decided to tax the profits of the largest companies more given the circumstances we're in", adding, “If you just let me explain what we're trying to do to help. We're using that money to help people in those circumstances we're actually putting more money into social care in particular.”

“I want to make sure that we are helping Nikki and Nikki should know we're putting billions of pounds more into social care everywhere, and that will help make sure that she can be well paid. We're making sure that Nikki's energy bill is is taken care of by the Government to the tune of about £1500,” the premier added.

By Mallika Soni

Mar 23, 2023 10:18 AM IST