If this happens - an inflation of 18% - of course it will have fatal consequences for the people who actually have lower middle income, the government must find solutions and adjust income and salaries for them, because electricity and gas energy needs are important before winter arrives.
Higher inflation started to feel in UK since the Brexit, and the UK government really knows the effect of that and I'm sure they are more ready by that time but due to unforeseen circumstances started from the Covid, other issues and now with the war between Ukraine and Russia, the situation becomes more worst and unexpected for them. That high inflation should address right away, or else they will suffer more. They are conserving their gas consumption for the winter, but I don't think it's enough to fully control the inflation, to lower that rate it will take years and probably a decade especially if they still have no solution for this.