Brits warned over £278 bill as water companies and councils claw in cash

Households across England are bracing themselves for a significant increase in bills, with a predicted rise of up to £300 on the horizon. Utility bills, council tax, and train fares are all set to surge above the current inflation rate, prompting experts to urge the government to take action to address the mounting cost of living.

With inflation expected to exceed the Bank of England's 2 per cent target, potentially reaching 3 per cent next year, households can expect to see substantial increases in their bills. Council tax alone could rise by an average of £109 for a band D property, while energy bills may increase by £12, water bills by £19, and broadband costs by £23.

Furthermore, annual rail season tickets could jump by £115 or more. Mortgage holders facing the end of low-interest fixed deals next year will also be hit with higher bills.

In response, politicians are calling on the government to provide more support to help people cope with the rising cost of living, reports the Express. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride stated: "The evidence is clear, Labour's Budget of broken promises will make working people poorer" - despite his last post in office being the minister in charge of the DWP throughout the harsh cost of living crisis overseen by his government.

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Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper has criticised the government's approach, saying: "Years of mismanagement and unfair tax hikes by the previous Conservative Government hit people's living standards, and sadly the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away."

She also expressed concern about current policies, saying: "It's worrying that this government seems to be making many of the same mistakes, with a tax on jobs, cuts to winter fuel payments and increases to people's bus fares."

In response, a Treasury spokesperson said: "We have taken the tough decisions to deliver economic stability after inheriting a £22bn black hole, and have boosted public investment by over £100bn over the next five years to mend our crumbling public services and drive prosperity in every part of the country."

They also highlighted measures to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures, stating: "To support households with the cost of living in the short term, we have increased the national living wage, protected payslips from higher taxes, and for the poorest families, have boosted the household support fund and discretionary housing payments by £1bn to help with essentials such as energy, food bills and rent."