View of the Houses of Parliament in London. File photoMOSCOW, June 18A massive protest began on Saturday in London amid a cost-of-living crisis and record inflation in the UK, Sky News reports. center of the British capital. They call on the authorities to take additional action in the fight against inflation and the rising cost of living. The organizer of the action, The Trades Union Congress (TUC), said workers are suffering «the longest and hardest» income cuts in history. .jpg» />Britain may open the largest gas storage facility due to the crisis, media reported Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in the action, among which there will be trade union leaders and representatives of various public organizations, the channel notes. Some members of the opposition Labor Party have already joined the protesters. The protesters headed towards Parliament Square in the Westminster area. Loud music is heard in the crowd, including the songs «I Need A Dollar» and «Money, Money, Money», to which the protesters dance and sing along. After the start of a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, the West increased sanctions pressure on Russia. The restrictive measures mainly affected the banking sector and the high-tech sector. Calls to abandon Russian energy sources have become louder. The disruption of supply chains has driven up fuel, electricity and food prices in Europe and the US. In the UK, the rise in the cost of living has hit millions of households. According to the UK Bureau for National Statistics, annual inflation in the country in April hit a record high since March 1982 — 9% against 7% a month earlier. Consumer prices rose 2.5% in April after rising 1.1% in March. In March 1982, the UK recorded inflation of 9.1%. British Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new £15 billion ($18.9 billion) package on 26 May in response to the cost-of-living crisis and record inflation in the country. In addition, the authorities have introduced a temporary 25% tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies.
