Uswitch survey finds 1.7 million UK households plan to skip heating this winter; separate analyses of foreign nationals' welfare costs published
Unbiased summary
A Uswitch survey found 1.7 million UK households (5.7%) plan not to turn on heating this winter to save money, with 52% worried about being cold. Of those skipping heating, 37% could afford it but chose to cut back, while 28% cited unaffordable bills. Meanwhile, the Centre for Migration Control (via FOI) reported £11.92bn in Universal Credit to households with at least one foreign national in 2025, and the Centre for Social Justice estimated total benefits, pensions and child support for non-British nationals at £23bn. Both analyses prompted debate on welfare and immigration, though government officials disputed the CSJ's estimates due to sampling methods.
Generated with deepseek-flash (DeepSeek)
Coverage by outlet
The Independent
centre-left
Angle
Frames the story around the human impact of energy costs and the need for government support, emphasizing hardship and worry among households.
Bias
Emphasizes the scale of worry (15 million homes), the proportion skipping heating for affordability reasons, and campaigners' calls for government action. Downplays or omits the fact that a larger share of those skipping heating could afford it but chose to save money, and does not report on the separate welfare and immigration analyses. The framing leans toward presenting the situation as a crisis requiring policy intervention.
City AM
centre-right
Angle
Reports on a think tank's estimate of total benefits and pensions spending on foreign nationals, framing it as a challenge to assumptions about immigration and welfare.
Bias
Focuses on the Centre for Social Justice's £23bn estimate and projections to 2030, noting government skepticism about the methodology. It emphasizes the scale of spending and the link to high net migration, while briefly mentioning that most visa holders cannot access public funds until settled status. It does not cover the Uswitch heating survey, and unlike GB News, it includes some caveats and the government's response, making it slightly more measured but still centered on the immigration-welfare angle.
Daily Mail
right
Angle
Presents the heating survey as part of a seasonal lifestyle debate while highlighting rising energy bills and offering practical health and support advice.
Bias
Focuses on the price cap increase and predicted further rises, and notes that 37% of those skipping heating could afford it, but does not emphasize the broader worry or affordability pressures as much as The Independent. It includes NHS guidance and Priority Services Register advice, framing the issue as one of personal choice and preparedness. It omits any mention of the welfare and immigration analyses that GB News and City AM covered.
GB News
right
Angle
Uses the story to highlight the cost of benefits for foreign households, framing it as a burden that could fund pensions for nearly one million Britons.
Bias
The headline and article focus exclusively on the DWP figures about Universal Credit payments to households with at least one foreign national, emphasizing the total sum, year-on-year increase, and comparison to state pensions. It does not mention the Uswitch heating survey at all, presenting a single-issue narrative that emphasizes immigration and welfare spending. The framing is starkly different from the original energy-cost story, with no context about mixed households or the limitations of the data included in the body.