Britain heading for worst fall in living standards since 1950s

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( March 24, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Britain heading for worst fall in living standards since 1950s, despite Sunak’s tax giveaways]( Britain is heading for its biggest fall in living standards since the 1950s this year, despite a mini-Budget in which chancellor Rishi Sunak slashed £330 off national insurance for the average worker and took 5p off the tax on a litre of petrol. The chancellor also promised a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax in 2024, in what was immediately denounced as a pre-election bribe. But he did nothing for the poorest, who see welfare benefits far outstripped by inflation which is expected to peak close to 9 per cent this year. And he rejected opposition calls for a windfall tax on the bumper profits of North Sea oil and gas companies to pay for a cut in VAT on energy prices.   2 / [Putin ‘failing’ in Ukraine, Boris Johnson says as he promises more arms shipments]( Britain is to provide 6,000 new defensive missiles and £25m for the Ukrainian armed forces in a bid to help push back the Russian invasion 3 / [Prince William expresses ‘sorrow’ about slavery in Jamaica speech - but doesn’t apologise]( The Duke of Cambridge addressed the topic while delivering a speech during a state dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica 4 / [Olympic Park chlorine leak leaves 29 people in hospital as 200 evacuated after ‘major incident’ at pool]( Swimmers said children were sharing oxygen masks outside the pool following ‘major incident’ 5 / [Madeleine Albright, first woman to serve as US secretary of state, dies at 84]( Ms Albright was also the first woman to serve as the US ambassador to the United Nations     The Big Question Why has Mariupol been such a key target for Russia? The southern Ukrainian port city on the Sea of Azov has been under siege from Russian missiles for almost a month now, its buildings devastated and its remaining population enduring hellish conditions. An estimated 80 per cent of its infrastructure has now been decimated, with its electricity, water, heating and lines of communication all cut off and those attempting to flee forced to make their way through gun battles and past unburied corpses as Russian forces try to pound the city into submission. Here’s why Mariupol has been such a focal point for Russian aggression. [Read the full story >](   Watch/ [Spring Statement: The key points from Rishi Sunak’s mini budget from fuel duties to income tax](   NUMBER OF THE DAY £3,000 – The increase to the threshold before workers have to pay National Insurance contributions announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Spring Statement.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “How many Britons died because of Brexit? Zero. Only today we have 150 Ukrainian children who were killed by Russian soldiers and Russian artillery. Can I ask you how many houses were destroyed because of Brexit? We have whole cities that have been completely destroyed. With this situation, please, no comparison.” – Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko rebukes Boris Johnson over his ill-advised comparison between Brexit and Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion.   [Refugees Welcome](     Other stories you might like   [Covid crisis ‘not over’ as hospitalisations to rise for two weeks, warns Chris Whitty](   [P&O able to legally sack 800 staff without telling government ‘because of Chris Grayling law change’](   [Boris Johnson says ‘facts of biology’ are ‘overwhelmingly important’ after asked about trans rights](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers John Rentoul, The Independent: [Rishi Sunak has set a trap for Labour at the next election](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.