A new report has painted a stark picture of financial pressures facing households across the UK, finding that one in five families are left with just £12 a week after paying for essential living costs.
The figures, published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, have reignited debate over the cost of living and whether enough is being done to support households struggling to make ends meet.
The findings emerge at a time of significant political upheaval at Westminster following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the arrival of Andy Burnham as his successor, with attention focused on the future direction of the UK Government.
For many families, however, the daily challenge remains far simpler and far more immediate, how to pay the bills and still have enough money left over to get through the week.
According to the report, one in five households now have only £12 remaining each week after covering essential costs, a figure critics say highlights the scale of the financial pressures facing many people across the country.
The SNP has seized on the findings, arguing that Westminster politicians have become distracted by leadership battles while families continue to face rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Moray MSP Laura Mitchell said the report demonstrates the need for action rather than political infighting.
Laura Mitchell said:
“While Labour have been fixated on their own internal problems for months, this report shows that people need real support with the cost of living right now.
“Keir Starmer has been hung out to dry and a new leader is in town, but a change of Prime Minister won’t change much for working families.
“They could start by following some of the measures the SNP has implemented in Scotland, like free tuition fees or prescriptions, or matching our new pledges for this Parliament, like a £2 bus cap, a food price cap, or the expansion of free childcare.
“But our hands are tied with devolution, we could go so much further and address the root causes of this inequality with the full powers of independence.”
The debate comes as the cost of living continues to dominate conversations in communities across Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands, where rising energy costs, housing pressures and transport costs can place additional strain on household budgets.
Supporters of greater intervention argue that governments must do more to help families cope with everyday costs, while critics question whether existing policies are sufficient to address the underlying causes of financial hardship.
Whatever the political response, the report’s headline finding is likely to resonate with many households who feel that despite repeated promises of economic recovery, their money simply is not stretching as far as it once did.
As Westminster enters another period of political transition, many families will be hoping that the focus quickly returns to the challenges affecting daily life, because for those left with just £12 a week after paying the essentials, the cost of living crisis remains a very real and pressing concern.
