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British inflation surged last month to its highest annual rate
since 1982, with consumer price inflation hitting 9% in April,
putting finance minister Rishi Sunak under pressure to do more
to help those struggling to pay rising food, fuel and energy
bills.
Duncan Smith, also a former work and pensions minister, told BBC
radio "Universal Credit" welfare payments should be immediately
brought in line with inflation as part of what he called a
"special fiscal event", in effect an emergency budget.
"I don't think we can afford to wait until later in the year. I
think that will begin to look complacent," he said.
"People need to see that we care enough to act immediately and I
would recommend that the government pauses and then acts big, it
acts boldly and it's brave about this because we have one
responsibility - to help those who desperately need it most."
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by David Evans)
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