Elaine Loughlin: Government trapped by its across-the-board cost-of-living supports

Advocacy groups say supports should be targeted at those most in need — but now that we're used to universal subventions, the Government will find it difficult to start saying no

Having got citizens and businesses fully hooked on what were supposed to be temporary supports, the Government has tied itself up in a political ruse that it now can’t get out of.

Once-off cost-of-living measures have already been repeated and will be doled out again in the coming months. Time-limited supports are also expected to be extended.