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‘Scattergun’ budget will still leave Britons facing higher energy bills, says thinktank

Healey’s attempt to provide ‘breathing space’ gives rich almost as much as poor, says Resolution Foundation

John Healey delivered a “scattergun” budget that did little to boost living standards and left Britain facing “a painful second half” of the parliament, a leading economic thinktank has warned.

The Resolution Foundation said on Thursday that measures to ease household gas and electricity costs would still leave energy bills higher this year than during the last energy shock.

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© Photograph: RichSTOCK/Alamy

© Photograph: RichSTOCK/Alamy

© Photograph: RichSTOCK/Alamy

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Cambodian police and soldiers helped guard abusive scam compounds, Amnesty alleges

Survivors tell rights group that serving officers who worked as guards administered electric shocks and beatings

Cambodian police and military officers worked as private security guards in scam compounds where thousands were forced to work in the online fraud industry, according to a report by Amnesty International.

The global rights group alleged they worked for security companies as part of a system that enabled slavery and rape in the compounds, with some guards using electric batons to keep people trapped.

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© Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

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‘I earn £126,000 – but nothing’s left at the end of the month’: readers react to the budget

From a young chef and a single father to business owners and a pensioner, Guardian readers reveal how John Healey’s measures will affect them

Louie, 24, a chef living in London, says a lot of people have “written off the idea of even considering getting a property” in their 20s.

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© Photograph: Graham Robinson

© Photograph: Graham Robinson

© Photograph: Graham Robinson

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How will John Healey’s energy support package affect you?

Chancellor’s ‘new course’ includes a £100 one-off payment, low-carbon upgrade loans and an end to standing charges

John Healey has unveiled a package of support for households being buffeted by “global economic storms”.

“I’m setting a new course to get energy costs down in line with Europe,” the chancellor said in his maiden budget. In the long term, he hopes that changes in how Britain covers the cost of renewables and grid upgrades will “drive down all aspects of energy bills”.

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© Photograph: Washington Imaging/Alamy

© Photograph: Washington Imaging/Alamy

© Photograph: Washington Imaging/Alamy

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