Boris Johnson admits government cost of living help isn’t good enough

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson listens to Head of Broughton plant at Airbus Jerome Blandin (left) with Secretary of State for Wales Robert Buckland (centre) during a visit to the Airbus UK East Factory in North Wales. Picture date: Friday August 12, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: Oli Scarff/PA Wire

Boris Johnson has admitted that current government support packages to help hard-up Brits with spiralling bills aren’t good enough.

This afternoon the PM said more help will be needed as energy bills are predicted to hit an eye watering £5,300 in April next year.

Boris Johnson admitted that more needs to be done to help with the cost of living – but not from him

Boris Johnson was grilled on the cost of living crisis during a visit to the Airbus UK East Factory in Wales

But Mr Johnson maintained he won’t make any more funding commitments to tackle the squeeze, saying that is a job for his successor.

The PM said: “What we’re doing in addition is trying to make sure by October, by January, there is further support.

“What the government will be doing – whoever is the Prime Minister – is making sure there is extra cash to help people.”

Some experts, including money saving guru Martin Lewis, have called for more support packages to be decided now.

The result of the Tory leadership race will be announced in less than four weeks, but Mr Lewis said that’s way too long.

He wants Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Mr Johnson to sit around the table and come up with a plan immediately.

The wannabe PMs and BoJo have all brushed off the idea.

Mr Johnson said: “I’m not going to pretend that things are easy for people right now. You’re right to push me because we’re doing everything that we can.

“But there’s more money coming anyway, as a result of the decisions being taken, there will be further help coming in October and in the new year.”

Mr Sunak has vowed to cut VAT from energy bills, saving households around £200.

The ex-Chancellor also pledged more “direct financial support” for people on low incomes and pensioners – though he hasn’t clarified exactly what that would look like.

Despite some early confusion, Ms Truss has clarified she hasn’t ruled out more handouts to help with the cost-of-living squeeze.

But the Foreign Secretary is adamant that slashing taxes is the way to tackle inflation rather than more public spending.