New cost-of-living minister needed to sort out crisis

BRITAIN needs a minister at the heart of Government dedicated to tackling the cost-of-living crisis, say leading Tories.

The hike in the price of goods and basic utilities is wreaking havoc on people’s finances, plunging many into poverty, and unless someone with “real clout” is appointed Whitehall will not respond with the necessary urgency, they argue.

Robert Halfon, a former education minister who today chairs Westminster’s education committee, is leading calls for a cost-of-living minister in the Cabinet.

The appointment, he said, would “concentrate minds enormously”.

The Harlow MP also argues there should be a commission to examine “the impact of every domestic policy on the cost of living”.

This body would play a similar role to the Office for Budgetary Responsibility and set out “regular forecasts for the Government as to what is going to happen to the cost of living for ordinary

folk up and down the country”. He said that, ideally, this would be led by a figure similar to Martin Lewis, the founder of Moneysavingexpert, who “knows what they are talking about”.

Inflation hit seven per cent in the year to March – the highest rate since 1992.

Stressing the need for action, Mr Halfon said: “The cost of living is the number one issue for my constituents. There is nothing more important.

“People are struggling because every decision they are making is based on whether they can feed their families and pay their heating bills.

“Everything is going up. This is not luxuries, it’s basic necessities. From bread to beans to Marmite, to coffee and tea, everything is going up.”

Former work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb says a dedicated figure to tackle the crisis would force Whitehall to focus on the issue.

The MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire said: “Ministers are right to say there is no magic bullet to fix the cost-of-living crisis.

The factors driving up the price of food, energy and other daily essentials are complicated and are being seen in other countries too.

“But this issue isn’t going away. It will probably dominate our politics right up to the next election and beyond.

“It is exactly the kind of crossgovernment challenge that needs a dedicated minister or champion to bring others together to hammer out a plan.

“Without real clout from the centre I do fear Whitehall will not treat this with the urgency or seriousness it demands.

“More certainly needs to be done to protect the elderly and those on the lowest incomes but hard-pressed taxpayers know the Government cannot just spend its way out of an inflationary cycle. They are looking for us to stop companies from profiteering and ensure markets work fairly and transparently.”

The MPS’ calls come as the Government is under mounting political pressure on the issue.

Savanta polling of 2,231 adults commissioned by the Lib Dems found 63 per cent agreed with the statement “Boris Johnson is prioritising saving his own job over dealing with the cost-of-living

crisis”. Just 23 per cent said he was “prioritising dealing with the crisis”.

Alexander Stafford, the Conservative MP for Rother Valley who sits on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, backed the calls for a cost-ofliving minister. He said: “It would make a huge difference to have a crossdepartmental minister who can help join up the dots and find different ways to reduce prices for everyone.”

But Lee Anderson, Tory MP for Ashfield, said: “We don’t need a cost-ofliving minister to tell us our gas bills are too high.” It’s “not complicated”, he said, adding: “Gas is too expensive, electricity is too expensive and petrol and diesel are too expensive.”

However, Julian Jessop, an economist with the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “Putting a single minister, or Tsar, in charge could knock heads together.

“There are many ways in which red tape could be cut to reduce costs, both for households and businesses, without adding to the burden on taxpayers.”