Metro Mayors call for extension to cost-of-living support in Budget amid financial strain for councils

City-region mayors from across the UK, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, have called on the government to extend the Household Support Fund and allow local authorities to continue to support residents with the high cost-of-living ahead of the March Budget.

In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard; Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin; Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham; Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson; and Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, have urged the government to renew the Household Support Fund which is due to end in March 2024.

The letter outlines how vital the Fund has been in their regions, providing a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of people most in need through emergency hardship payments, boosting food bank supplies, supporting those fleeting domestic violence and emergency food vouchers. It also highlights the financial strain local authorities are under to continue to provide vital services while facing rising costs themselves.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“The Household Support Fund has supported thousands of people in Greater Manchester struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

“It has supported local authorities to extend free school meal provision during holiday periods for the most vulnerable children, created a network of warm spaces across the city-region during the winter months and supported some of our most vulnerable residents with rising fuel costs.

“The implications of withdrawing this grant will mean that thousands of residents in Greater Manchester will struggle to meet their most basic physical needs. We are united in urging the Government to reconsider ending this vitally important Household Support Fund.”

The mayors’ letter is published in full on the GMCA website.