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Laura Hutchinson 🌸

@lauralhutch.bsky.social
182 followers 289 following 24 posts

Head of Public Affairs at Citizens Advice

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Today we’re launching our #TurnTheTide campaign, calling on the government to take immediate action to tackle rising energy bills, rent, and debt. It’s no longer a one-off ‘crisis’, but an everyday reality for millions of people. Something has to change. ➡️ bit.ly/4eWFL1M
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Child Poverty Action Group @cpaguk.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
A first ever birthday party for a 10-year-old, being able to afford the school trip without getting into debt, a new mattress for the kids - this is the kind of difference scrapping the two-child limit will make.
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Tom MacInnes @tommacinnes.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Ahead of our end of year Data Insights session (sign up here! Featuring special guest @anooshc.bsky.social from the New Statesman www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/turning-th...) I wrote something very short on the 2 child limit, living standards and political ambition medium.com/p/9e10a39f80cf
eventbrite.co.uk
Turning the Tide or Treading Water? Living Standards After the Budget
After the government’s key announcements and the recent Autumn Budget, we’ll explore what those decisions mean for households and families.
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Not well understood that 6 in 10 families impacted by the two-child limit are in work, and that the vast majority have 3 or 4 children.
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
"Scrapping the two-child limit and addressing high energy bills will prevent hundreds of thousands of children from growing up in poverty and help households across the country keep the lights on." Our CEO responds to today's Autumn Budget ⤵️ bit.ly/4pDEOzb
Text reads: "These commitments mark a vital turning point. We hope the Government continues in this direction, as there's still more to do to ensure every household can live a life free from poverty."
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/med...
citizensadvice.org.uk
Citizens Advice responds to the Autumn Budget
Citizens Advice responds to the Autumn Budget 2025
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Scrapping the two-child limit is a brilliant step forward. Reversing this cruel policy will not only pull hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty altogether (and lift many more out of very deep poverty); it will also stop over 100 additional children from being pulled into poverty every day
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Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
As the #AutumnBudget approaches, we're calling on the Chancellor to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to support people on low incomes as private rents continue to soar. Read more in our blog ⤵️ t.co/xTGMQRoFsk t.co/ijj5LHQyVC
Text reads, 'More than 10% of private renters are in a negative budget'.
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Tom MacInnes @tommacinnes.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Proper good news today - the Renters' Rights Act gets Royal Assent. Citizens Advice see 200 people a day with problems in private rented housing. The act shifts the balance towards tenants, but it's just the start, as @tessthompsonca.bsky.social says here wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/the-renters-...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
The Renters’ Rights Act is here — but the work is just beginning
After years of waiting, the Renters’ Rights Act has finally received Royal Assent and passed into law. We’ve campaigned hard for this, and…
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Caroline Marrows @cmarrows.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...
theguardian.com
Millions in households in England and Wales are stuck in the red, says charity
Citizens Advice says 4 million people spending more on essentials than they earn amid ever-increasing bills
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Southwark Council @lb-southwark.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
You deserve fair pay at work! 💸 On sick leave? You’re still protected 💊 Got a worry at work? We’re partnering with Citizens Advice Southwark and Southwark Law Centre to help you access free advice Find help and support www.southwark.gov.uk/about-counci...
Person at work in a protective hat and hi-viz jacket
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
“No family should have to borrow money just to eat while waiting for support they’re entitled to.” We're calling on the government to take action on one of Universal Credit's longest-standing problems: the 5 week wait. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4odsGnL
independent.co.uk
UK poverty crisis as 500,000 children in homes trapped in benefit debt cycle
Exclusive: Tens of thousands of families are forced to take out loans to cover the five-week wait until their first universal credit payment – but many struggle to pay it back
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Please please stop calling it the “two child benefit cap”. There is no such thing : www.linkedin.com/posts/laura-...
linkedin.com
📣📣There is no such thing as the “two child benefit cap” !!! Lots of discussion at the moment about what Labour will do to reduce child poverty. That’s great. It’s of such fundamental importance… | L...
📣📣There is no such thing as the “two child benefit cap” !!! Lots of discussion at the moment about what Labour will do to reduce child poverty. That’s great. It’s of such fundamental importance that...
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Excellent briefing and thread from @jagnaolejniczak.bsky.social 👇 We looked into how our clients really experience the transition to work from the Universal Credit system, suggesting work incentives are helpful but not adequate, and wider barriers to employment are being overlooked
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
The challenge of energy affordability is very real, but rising block tariffs aren’t the answer. People on low incomes with poorly insulated homes or who need more energy for health reasons could see rising bills, while those with multiple homes or can install solar panels avoid paying a fair share
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 16/07/2025
The most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty is to abolish the two-child limit, which would cost £7,480 per child lifted out of poverty. If it is not scrapped then one-in-three children will be in poverty by 2029-39, including half of children in large families 👉 buff.ly/oiV5Re2
Chart showing Estimated annual cost and reduction in the number of children in relative poverty after housing costs, various two-child limit options, 2029-30: UK
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Anne Pardoe @annepardoe.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
New paper from Citizens Advice on how to deliver tangible growth - which puts money in people’s pockets - in consumer markets. TLDR: Consumer confidence is key & slashing hard won consumer protections without adequate safeguards isn’t the answer.
citizensadvice.org.uk
How to deliver tangible growth in consumer markets
UK households need tangible economic growth which puts money in their pocket. Consumer confidence is critical - cutting consumer protection is not the answer
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
The Universal Credit (UC) and Personal Independence Payment bill has its third reading on Wednesday. Cuts to UC health look to be going ahead. Here’s 3 reasons why that’s a bad idea ⤵️
Image shows a silhouette of a woman looking worried. Text overlay reads, "Cutting and then freezing the Universal Credit health element will leave many disabled people unable to afford their essentials."
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Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
The cuts to Universal Credit for ill & disabled people that remain in this bill will be deeply harmful, but campaigners & MPs have forced a climbdown on huge swathes of the wider cuts that were originally proposed. You cannot deliver principled welfare reform to a predetermined savings target
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Kartik Raj @kartikraj.eurosky.social · 01/07/2025
6/15 The best summary of the UCPIP Bill and what it means that I have seen in the past 24 hours is from @lauralhutch.bsky.social & @tommacinnes.bsky.social of @citizensadvice.bsky.social wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no... They call out the awful euphemism underpinning the entire exercise.
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
These are not reforms
Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Anti poverty organisations all unanimously urging MPs to vote against the UCPIP Bill this afternoon, and calling on the government to carry out proper reviews and consultation before legislating. This is too important to vote through on an act of faith. www.ucpipbill.co.uk/wp-content/u...
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Clare Moriarty @claremoriarty.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
If the UCPIP Bill becomes law it will cut PIP for over 400k disabled people & UC for over 700k people who are disabled or have a long-term health condition by 2030. Government’s own impact assessment says the cuts will plunge 150k people into poverty by the end of this Parliament
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
A long thread on why the concessions in and around the UCPIP Bill (ie the disability benefits cuts) are illusory, disingenuous and potentially makes things worse 🧵 There are 5 big myths to bust -fifth is the most difficult to untangle, but the most significant in my view, so please do bear with 🙂
Image of the Houses of Parliament
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
If the UCPIP Bill passes, the arbitrary 4 point rule will be enshrined in law. It will prevent the Timms Review from being genuine co-production with disabled people. Citizens Advice is urging MPs to vote for their constituents & against the Bill tday. wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
These are not reforms
Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Kartik Raj @kartikraj.eurosky.social · 30/06/2025
Strongly recommended reading on planned "reforms" to (primarily disability-related) UK social security. This Medium post by @lauralhutch.bsky.social & @tommacinnes.bsky.social of @citizensadvice.bsky.social . 10/10 for a cogent, pithy title. wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
These are not reforms
Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Exempting current claimants from harmful cuts does not mean profound harm will not be inflicted as result of UCPIP bill. Citizens Advice is urging MPs to vote against the bill. These are not reforms. They are cuts to people who can least afford it. wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
These are not reforms
Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 29/06/2025
How are the cost of essentials affecting low-to-middle-income families across Britain? On Monday, join our discussion with @claremoriarty.bsky.social @peterlevell.bsky.social and @lalithatry.bsky.social chaired by @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social Sign up here ➡️ buff.ly/3NYLh0r
Graphic for event 'The price is tight' How are the cots of essentials affecting low to middle income families? The event is on Monday 30th June at 10am
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Luke Young @lukeyoung.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Just spoke to @timesradio with a bit of myth busting on PIP and response to rebel deal. Yes, big concessions from govt for current claimants but this is a political fix that creates unequal policy. All it takes is illness or life event for any of us to need PIP. People will have less.
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Changes to UCPIP bill are result of campaigners & disabled people speaking out about the profound harm the govt was about to inflict. However, the bill remains illogical & inherently unfair. The govt should pause & come back with meaningful reform if serious about “fixing the foundations”.
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Victoria Lee (née Anns) @victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
How will the proposed disability benefit cuts impact disabled people? Today we’re sharing the story of one of the people we’ve helped: Anita*. The cuts could mean she loses over £8k per year (43% of her income)❗ New blog out now: medium.com/p/1ab8959922a1
medium.com
Anita’s story
How cuts to disability benefits could impact millions
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Maddy Rose @maddyirose.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
UC & PIP bill proposes the biggest cuts to disability benefits since OBR was created. It would: ✂️cut benefits for 3.2m disabled ppl 📈Push 300,000-400,000 into poverty, including 50,000 children 📈 Drive 440,000 into severe hardship New joint briefing: www.ucpipbill.co.uk
ucpipbill.co.uk
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill -
On Tuesday 1st July, MPs will be asked to vote on the UC & PIP Bill, which contains the biggest cuts to social security in a decade. This briefing from ten organisations including Scope, Citizens Advi...
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Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
7m families are affected by these benefit reforms; 3.2m will lose support. Under a best-case scenario, we find that 105,000 more people would be in work by the end of the Parliament. It is clear that any increases in employment will be far too small to fully offset the hit to family incomes.
Image showing: Number of families who are expected to lose and gain support as a result of Spring 2025 benefit changes: Great Britain, 2029-30
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Victoria Lee (née Anns) @victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Today, the government laid its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill before parliament. But what's actually in the bill and what happens next? New blog out now: wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/why-were-ask...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
Why we’re asking MPs to vote against the bill to cut disability benefits
Today, the government laid its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill before parliament. It details plans to cut billions…
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Tom MacInnes @tommacinnes.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
A blog by @lauralhutch.bsky.social & me, pulling together some of the strands from recent work by our colleagues @craigpberry.bsky.social @julia-rt.bsky.social and @maddyirose.bsky.social. Link here - it’s an 8 minute read apparently wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/short-sighte... (1/6)
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
Short sighted policy making: Why does history keep repeating itself?
This government, like many before them, is offering extreme prescriptions before being certain of the diagnosis.
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Why do successive (including current) government “reforms” to welfare often sow the seeds for next crisis? Myself and @tommacinnes.bsky.social have a stab at explaining here. wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/short-sighted-policy-making-why-does-history-keep-repeating-itself-a096aed4eb4d
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
Short sighted policy making: Why does history keep repeating itself?
This government, like many before them, is offering extreme prescriptions before being certain of the diagnosis.
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Spot on from Polly Toynbee. For more on the @citizensadvice.bsky.social analysis cited, check out Maddy's thread bsky.app/profile/madd...
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
The cuts to disability benefits will have devastating consequences. But the government is not committing to undertaking a proper impact assessment and is not asking the questions it doesn't want answers to. So we've outlined the impact here anyway www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
citizensadvice.org.uk
Pathways to Poverty: How planned cuts to disability benefits will impact the people we support
Pathways to Poverty: How planned cuts to disability benefits will impact the people we support
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
This would be an extremely welcome move by the government. One that would immediately improve the life chances of hundreds of thousands of children and their families. 🤞🤞🤞 observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
Starmer to scrap two-child benefit cap as Treasury told to find money | The Observer
Policy change will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty after pressure from cabinet and MPs
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
It’s true that the substance of strategy is more important than the timing. But govt can make welfare spend outside of a Budget and what could be more urgent than lifting children out of poverty? The longer we wait, the more expensive problem becomes to fix www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
No 10 delays child poverty strategy with tens of thousands more facing hardship
Exclusive: Flagship policy put back until at least autumn amid fears cost of removing two-child benefit cap will outweigh political benefit
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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸
Save the Children UK @savechildrenuk.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
We are disappointed at the delay to the child poverty strategy which the UK Government promised to publish in spring. Pushing this important work back will mean 20,000 more children will be dragged into poverty. 1/2
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
This is so sad. No exaggeration to say that Epstein likely would not have been convicted had it not been for her courage and conviction in coming forward and being so vocal. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser, dies aged 41
Giuffre’s family issue statement confirming she killed herself at her farm in Western Australia
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
The government is inconsistent on living standards. They pledge to end mass reliance on foodbanks and reduce child poverty, and then make plans to cut benefits for many ill and disabled people. @citizensadvice.bsky.social will continue to oppose these cuts www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
Benefit cuts will push more people into poverty, warns Citizens Advice boss
Exclusive: Clare Moriarty hits out at Labour’s plan as ‘short-term action’ with ‘long-term consequences’ in rare intervention
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Victoria Lee (née Anns) @victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Just over a year ago my PIP review was launched. By the time I got the letter in the post, I realised I had just 3 days left to prove my entitlement. Otherwise, my PIP might be stopped. That just isn’t enough time! New blog below ⬇️ wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/race-against...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
Race against time: how short deadlines to return PIP forms are harming disabled people
I was baffled when I received my Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review letter.
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Maddy Rose @maddyirose.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
📣 Citizens Advice joined Scope to urge the Chancellor to reconsider potential cuts to disability benefits. Cuts would have a catastrophic impact on disabled people, pushing even more disabled households into poverty. Read our open letter to the Chancellor ⬇️ www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/op...
scope.org.uk
The cost of cuts to disability benefits: Our open letter to the Chancellor | Disability charity Scope UK
Right now, the government is considering changes to disability benefits. But for millions of disabled people, these benefits are a lifeline. They are the difference between surviving and being pushed ...
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Citizens Advice has been leading on looking at how to reduce essential household costs, as part of the Govt's Child Poverty Taskforce. Our findings have been published & message is clear: A strategy that fails to invest will not seriously reduce child poverty assets.ctfassets.net/mfz4nbgura3g...
assets.ctfassets.net
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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Excited to share our new @citizensadvice.bsky.social report on work coach relationships with claimants. A lack of resources and too much focus on claimant compliance means that even the best work coaches struggle to provide effective employment support. Urgent reform is needed 👇 tiny.cc/3or6001
citizensadvice.org.uk
Found anything yet? Exploring the relationship between Universal Credit claimants and their work coaches
This report examines the relationships between Universal Credit (UC) claimants and their work coaches. It makes recommendations on employment support and conditionality, complementing the government’s...
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Boxing Day 🌊
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Any good podcasts for Christmas break ? 🙏 Ones I liked listening to this year include: ◦ In The Dark S1, 2 & 3 ◦ Teacher’s Pet ◦ The people vs Harvey Proctor ◦ West Cork ◦ The Secret History of Antarctica
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Pleased to hear Prime Minister commit to put more money into people's pockets. This will not be achieved by trickle down growth alone. Our data shows food bank use, homelessness & energy meter disconnection hit record levels in 2023/24. Households are in crisis. Govt investment is need.
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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Throughout the general election @citizensadvice.bsky.social repeatedly said the number 1 issue was living standards. Pleased this is now recognised in govt milestones. In June 2019, our average debt client had £20 left after essentials. Now, on average, they're in the red every month.
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