George Eustice told BBC Radio 4’s Today that Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss had said they would do more to tackle the crisis if they became prime minister, but both have faced criticism for not setting out concrete plans for the help they would offer. Eustice said: “We announced a package of measures in June which was a £400 discount for everyone and then additional support for the most vulnerable. “Both candidates said they would do more. You don’t have long to wait, there will be a new prime minister in about 10 days.” On Friday, Ofgem confirmed a sharp rise in the consumer price cap from October which will increase a typical household’s gas and electricity bills from £1,971 to £3,549 a year. Bills are also expected to rise further in January and could top £6,600 in April. While both Tory leadership candidates have pledged support if they become prime minister, neither has detailed the policies they plan to deliver. So far, Truss, the front-runner for the next prime ministership, has said she will reverse National Insurance rises and scrap green levies on energy bills. Responding to the price cap increase, he said it would “ensure people have the support they need to get through these difficult times”, but had no new proposals on how much or who would get help. Sunak has confirmed he will reduce or remove VAT on energy bills, but has not proposed further policies. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Writing in The Times on Saturday, Sunak said: “I have chosen to focus on my No 1 priority is reducing inflation. That is why I have been clear that we need to provide some direct support to everyone with the cost of living, while focusing our efforts on low-income households and pensioners. I have also made it clear how they will get this support: through the welfare system, winter fuel payments and cold weather. And I will outline that support as soon as possible if I become prime minister.” Experts have questioned whether these measures are enough to help and have pressed the government to do more as millions of households face poverty this winter. Instead, Labor has announced a plan to freeze energy prices at their current level, at a cost of £29bn – partly funded by a boosted windfall tax on energy companies’ profits. Eustice defended the two candidates, saying: “They both said they would do more targeted interventions, but I think it’s right that when they become prime minister, whoever it is, they’ll want to look at all the options properly. cost and to understand the impact of each of these options,” he said. “This will absolutely be at the top of their in-tray. Both said they would have an early budget to address this particular challenge.” Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford urged the Government to “step in” to protect people from the “devastation” of the cost of living. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Blackford said: “There are predictions that the energy price cap could rise even more than £6,000 by next spring. This is a disaster. “These are costs that people simply cannot afford, and as a consequence of that, the government has a responsibility to step in.” He also warned that there is a “real threat” that many businesses will “go to the wall” during the winter period. “This is an emergency as big as the Covid crisis, and in such a scenario the government has a responsibility to act,” he said.
