By Jayden Whitworth

Families across Leicestershire are feeling the devastating impact of the cost-of-living crisis, as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, ahead of announcing his Spring Statement today(WED,MARCH23) warns that Russian sanctions will also be felt by British people.

Prices are soaring, with fuel, energy and food costs increasing, leaving many people struggling to make ends meet. 

The economy has been left reeling from a difficult few years with both Covid-19 and Brexit taking its toll.

On top of this, the Russian sanctions that have arisen as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, are set to inflate prices even more.

With the economy trying to recover the prices are reaching extortionate levels.

Petrol has risen to more than 170p a litre in places and energy bills have increased by up to 50 per cent.

This has left people worried as to whether they will be able to afford basic necessities which might put foodbanks and places of support under increased pressure.

Jeff Adems, trustee at Leicester South Foodbank, said: “I expect demand to go up quite a lot.

“Over the last couple of years, Covid-19 has forced demand up, but with cost of fuel and prices going up, we can expect it to get very busy over the next couple of months.

“I can’t see it being worse than Covid if I’m honest.

“Covid was quite a unique set of events, so I don’t think the cost-of-living crisis will be worse, no.”

Powerful thread. I was at food bank in Leicester recently and heard of someone who when given fresh food commented they would now need to switch the fridge back on.

Switching off the fridge to save on electricity bills.

That’s how devastating this cost of living crisis is https://t.co/l5TwkLT1kU

— Jonathan Ashworth (@JonAshworth) March 10, 2022

The Chancellor is set to deliver his Spring Statement to the House of Commons today(WED,MARCH23). 

One of the measures that could be introduced is a cut to fuel duty, reducing the cost of petrol by 5p per litre.

Sunak told BBC’s Sunday Morning programme: “I want to be honest with people that it’s not going to be easy.

“I wish government could solve absolutely every problem and that I could fully protect people against all the challenges that lie ahead. 

“I can’t do that, but what I would say is I will stand by them in the same way that I have done in the past couple of years.”

Jeff added: “It’s not my job to worry about prices going up. 

“I haven’t got any control over that; I just have to deal with the consequences.”

By Luke Williamson

Mark Frisby said he will be “fighting the corner of everyone” after he was elected to the Leicestershire County Council for the Melton West Ward.

Conservative Mr Frisby claimed victory with 53.3 percent of the vote, which was 30 percent more than the closest challenger, Labour’s Phillip Allnatt, and was one of 42 victories in the County last Thursday [MAY06].

He said: “I haven’t always had the life ambition of getting into politics, but I have always wanted to serve my community.

“I don’t have ambitions of getting to Westminster, I am just giving a voice to the people of Melton and making sure we do not get overlooked like most market towns do.

Mr Frisby is a careers guidance specialist, providing training to young people and adults in Melton and decided to enter the world of local politics in 2019, standing as an independent in the Melton Borough Council elections.

“I lost in the Melton Borough Council election by just three votes last time as an independent, but this time was very different,” he said.

“I am not from the typical Tory privilege, I am just a boy from the estate and I want people to come and have a chat with me.

“No issue is too small for me to say ‘I don’t care about that’ and no issue is too big for me to disregard without doing my best at it first.

“Come and speak to me, the kettle is always on – not just as a councillor but as a friend too.”

Several of Mr Frisby’s policies stem from his line of work, including a desire to create more opportunities for young people to remain in the town.

He said: “Melton is a sleeping giant of a town and we need to get the people support that the bigger cities in the area are getting.

“I want us to bring some bigger businesses to Melton and Leicestershire, to make sure our talented young people don’t just leave to go off to university and don’t come back.

“I want people to want to continue their family lines in the town and they need the opportunities here for them to stay.

Mr Frisby wants to see another one or two doctors’ surgeries opening in the town, as there is only one to cover the whole of Melton at the minute.

A large part of the Conservative manifesto for the Leicestershire County Council elections was ‘building a greener future’ and that is something Mr Frisby would also like to achieve in the town.

He added: “Melton has a rich rural food heritage but we wrap it in so much plastic.

“I want Melton to be a trailblazer in plastic-free local produce, which hopefully will also create more jobs in our area.

“Tree planting and additional green space is also really high on my agenda and I have spoken to our Member of Parliament already about that.”

One challenge facing Mr Frisby is proving to the people he is representing that he is the best man for the job, and he says he will not stop trying his hardest for the people of Melton over the next four years.

He said: “If I am taking even a penny of their council tax, I want to give them a pound of value in return.

“People went out on a miserable Thursday and gave me their vote, which meant a lot.

“People tend to feel that they don’t have access to their councillors, but I am 100 per cent committed to bridging the gap between the council and the constituent,” he said.