Options for cost of living help will be ‘ready’ for new PM, says chancellor Nadhim Zahawi | Politics News

Prime Minister Nadhim Zahawi said options to provide more help to people to ease cost-of-living pressures would be “ready to go live” on September 5 – but said the new prime minister would decide on this issue.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Zahawi said one of the two Conservative Party leadership candidates – Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak – would be able to “play” when elected.

But he suggested that Boris Johnson, the outgoing prime minister, would not introduce any new policies to tackle the cost of living while he was in office.

“My message to families today is this: we will have those choices ready to be made,” Mr. Zahawi said.

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“Yesterday I had a meeting with the industry to see what more we could do with the industry in terms of direct debit, on the prepaid meter, all the things that families are worried about, we are taking care of. told us that we are doing such work September 5th the prime minister can start working and put those things in place.”

When asked if additional direct payments to families this winter were inevitable, Mr Zahawi said: “We are looking at all options for what additional help would be needed that we can’t help. we can give families to get through the winter – £37 billion, we’re doing it on physical delivery.”

Yesterday Mr Johnson doubled down on his insistence that the next prime minister must make a cost-of-living financial decision after negotiations with energy bosses concluded with no new measures to ease the cost of living crisis.

Speaking after the meeting, the Prime Minister said he would continue to urge the energy sector to ease the financial pressures facing struggling families, but he reiterated his stance that his successor in The No. 10 position must “make important financial decisions”.

Energy analysts have predicted that typical energy bills could rise to around £3,500 by October and more than £4,200 in January.

Mr Johnson’s successor will not be announced until September 5.

Last night, the Tory leader was full of hope Mr. Sunak reveals plan to cut rising energy bills for 16 million vulnerable people which he hopes will take him to 10 Downing Street.

In a dramatic move as his Tory leadership’s conflict with Liz Truss grows increasingly acute, he is said to be ready to seek up to £10 billion to cut bills for poor households than.

And in a blow to his opponent, the former prime minister declared in an article in The Times: “Whether others talk ‘boosterish’ or not, you cannot heat your house with hope. hope.”

According to The Times, Mr Sunak accepted that the plan to cut VAT on energy bills would cost £5bn and now he would also find up to £5bn more to help those most vulnerable due to the virus. prices increased.

He also predicted that as energy prices continue to rise, the government will have to raise more money from taxing energy companies, a move that Ms Truss rejected at the latest leadership meeting in Cheltenham.

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Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the lack of extra support offered to families and pensioners after a meeting with industry bosses on Thursday “appalling”.

And Labor has accused the government of “lack of action”.

“Families are worried about how they will pay their bills,” said Ed Miliband, secretary of state for climate change and net zero.

“The prime minister and prime minister have accepted AWOL, while the leadership candidates have no substantive ideas on how to help working people meet the challenges they face.”

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer will visit Edinburgh on Friday where he is expected to speak on some elements of the party proposal to help those with rising energy billsbefore full announcement next week.

The party announced today a prepaid metering policy that it says will help bring prepaid energy prices in line with energy prices for direct debit customers and relieve an estimated four million households. family.

Sir Keir has come under fire over the past few weeks for going on holiday at a time of national crisis, with former Labor leader Gordon Brown taking three interventions outlining the steps he will take to ease the burden. the weight of the cost of living crisis while he was away.

But Mr Reynolds insisted to Sky News this morning that Labor “actually has a very clear plan” that includes a wind tax on oil and gas companies.

Meanwhile, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, who is backing Liz Truss in the ongoing Tory leadership campaign, said “all options will be considered” when asked if the government would is considering providing assistance to those most affected by the rising cost of living.