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Britain’s vulnerable await prime minister’s spending plans with anxiety

Thirugnanam Sureshan, 50, whose disabilities require round-the-clock care and present difficulties coping with cost of living increases, sits in his bedroom as his wife Sridevi, 46, makes the bed at their home in Bexhill, East Sussex, England, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. Sureshan has a rare condition called Charcot foot which affects the bones, joints and tissues in his foot. He also has thyroid problems and an eye condition. Because of his condition, he doesn't cope well with the cold. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
Thirugnanam Sureshan, 50, whose disabilities require round-the-clock care and present difficulties coping with cost of living increases, sits in his bedroom as his wife Sridevi, 46, makes the bed at their home in Bexhill, East Sussex, England, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. Sureshan has a rare condition called Charcot foot which affects the bones, joints and tissues in his foot. He also has thyroid problems and an eye condition. Because of his condition, he doesn't cope well with the cold. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

By DANICA KIRKA / Associated Press 7 min read


LONDON (AP) — Thirugnanam Sureshan maneuvers his wheelchair into the tiny kitchen of his one-bedroom apartment, flips the switch on an electric kettle and brews a mug of instant coffee. It’s his second hot drink of the day, and it will be his last.

The humble countertop kettle — ubiquitous in homes across Britain where a cup of tea is a symbol of welcome, comfort and a break from the demands of a busy day — has become a luxury for Sureshan and his wife, Sridevi, after their monthly electricity bill almost doubled over the past year.

Sureshan, a former airport security guard who is disabled by health problems including a rare foot condition, struggles to stay warm. He is cutting down wherever possible to ensure he can keep the heat on this winter amid soaring prices for electricity, food and gasoline.

“If I don’t keep myself warm, I might lose my life,’’ Sureshan, 50, said at his home in the town of Bexhill-on-Sea in southern England. “That’s the situation.’’