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Rishi Sunak’s “soaring” personal wealth has come under fresh attack ahead of crucial inflation figures coming out tomorrow.

In what will be a key moment in the election campaign, the rate of inflation is expected to ease back to the Bank of England’s target of 2% for the first time since spring 2021.

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The figures could provide a much needed boost for the embattled prime minister, whose key offering to voters is that the economy has “turned a corner” under his leadership and they should not risk change with Labour.

But the Labour Party says this claim is “rubbished” by data showing more than half of Brits think the cost of living crisis has become worse in the last month.

The party says that Mr Sunak’s wealth increased by £122m in the last year, while data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows millions of people continue to struggle.

Darren Jones, shadow chief secretary to the treasury, told Sky News: “No wonder Rishi Sunak doesn’t have a clue what working people are going through. He is entirely insulated from the cost of living crisis and totally out of touch.

“Under the Tories, taxes on working people have risen to a 70-year high and this week Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that their manifesto is unfunded.

“We need a change, we need a government that understands working people, we need a Labour government.”

Darren Jones, shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
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Darren Jones, shadow chief secretary to the treasury

ONS data released earlier this month showed 54% of people believed the cost of living has increased compared to one month ago – while just 3% of people believed it had decreased.

The biggest way people are feeling the pinch is at the supermarket – with 91% of respondents saying the price of their food shop has shot up.

The data also showed 45% of people’s rent or mortgage has increased in the last six months, while a third of people say they are unable to save anything in the year ahead.

This is despite the fact inflation is nearing normal levels, after reaching record highs in recent times and at one stage hitting a peak not seen for 40 years.

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Inflation has fallen, so why are we paying more?

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With households still feeling the squeeze, all parties are facing pressure to do more to tackle the cost of living.

The Tories are promising tax cuts, with the prime minister on Tuesday night saying prioritising this was his “moral mission” now that inflation is back “under control”.

Meanwhile, Labour is vowing to cut energy bills through the creation of a publicly owned clean energy company, saying this could save families £300 a year.

Labour has sought to use Mr Sunak’s vast personal fortune as a dividing line during the election – saying he can’t relate to the pressures facing the rest of the country.

The personal wealth of Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty rose by £122m last year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

The couple’s fortune was estimated at £651m in the latest list, published in May, up from £529m in 2023.

This means they are richer than the King, according to the annual list of the UK’s most wealthy people.

Mr Sunak was a hedge fund manager before entering politics, while his wife is a businesswoman and the daughter of an Indian billionaire.

The bulk of the couples’ wealth derives from shares in Infosys, the IT company co-founded by Ms Murty’s father.

A Conservative spokesperson hit back at Labour’s attack by claiming the party was facing a £38bn black hole in their finances – a figure that Labour has disputed.

“Keir Starmer is desperately trying to hide the fact that the £38.5bn blackhole in Labour’s manifesto will cost households up and down the country £2094,” the spokesperson said.

The prime minister has previously insisted attacks on his personal wealth don’t bother him and last week claimed he “went without lots of things” in his childhood, including Sky TV.

He has also ramped up personal attacks against his rival Sir Keir Starmer in recent days – claiming yesterday that he lacks the “courage of his convictions” and so would find the job of prime minister “hard to do well”.

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FTX creditors only getting ’10-25% of their crypto back’ — creditor

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<div>FTX creditors only getting '10-25% of their crypto back' — creditor</div>

Following the collapse of the FTX exchange, the FTT token collapsed by more than 80% and wiped away over $2 billion in customer value. 

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CZ walks free, Caroline Ellison receives prison sentence, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Sept. 22 – 28

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CZ walks free, Caroline Ellison receives prison sentence, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Sept. 22 – 28

Binance founder CZ walks free, former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison sentenced to two years, and more: Hodlers Digest

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Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield quits Labour – criticising Sir Keir Starmer in resignation letter

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Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield quits Labour - criticising Sir Keir Starmer in resignation letter

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.

The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.

She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.

In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.

“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.

Rosie Duffield. Pic: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via Reuters
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Rosie Duffield. Pic: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via Reuters

Sir Keir has faced backlash after a Sky News report revealed he had received substantially more freebies than any other MP since becoming Labour leader.

Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.

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Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.

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She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.

“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.

“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”

Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.

Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.

“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.

Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.

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