What a coincidence.. scandal-hit Tories to launch ‘rescue plan’

A £10BILLION package to tackle the cost of living crisis is to be unveiled by the Tories as they try to move on from Partygate.

Sources said the deal was signed off yesterday by the Chancellor and Boris Johnson, who told MPS he planned not to spend another “second” talking about his Covid lawbreaking.

Under-fire Rishi Sunak is due to unveil the measures today.

The plan is believed to include increasing the Warm Home Discount Scheme as bills soar.

The initiative was previously expected to provide £150 payments to nearly three million families.

Further help with council tax and benefits may on the table.

The plan is likely to be part-funded by a rise in the “supplementary charge” levied on oil and gas firms.

It is understood an extra tax on power producers has been dropped, for now at least.

A source said the majority of help will go to the poorest. They added: “We’re very conscious virtually everyone is suffering and we need to help families who normally would be either more than capable of and eager to help themselves.”

The profits of fuel retailers may be looked at, after pump

prices hit a record high and critics accused some forecourts of not passing on all of the Chancellor’s 5p-a-litre duty cut.

The Office for Budget

Responsibility forecast the Treasury would net £26.2bn in fuel duties this financial year.

The Mirror understands Mr Johnson backed the need for investment when he met energy firms on Monday.

Calls for a windfall tax may have been muddied as BP and Shell make most of their profits abroad.

Critics fear the measures will not go far enough and the End Fuel Poverty Coalition repeated calls for an emergency budget, including a payment of £1,800 to the lowestincome families.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said October’s leap in energy bills may cause the inflation rate for the poorest to soar to 14%. It is much higher than the 8% rate for the rich.

The Treasury last night said: “The Chancellor was clear that as the situation evolves, so will our response, with the most vulnerable his No1 priority.”

Millions of motorists face more pain as petrol has hit an all-time high of 170.35p a litre.

We need to help those who would normally be able to help themselves SOURCE ON NEW £10BN PACKAGE DUE OUT TODAY

14%

Predicted inflation rate for poorest after energy bills rise in October

MEASURES Rishi Sunak PLAN Extra tax for energy companies may be dropped PAIN Petrol prices hit high