‘We cannot shield everyone

BORIS Johnson warned the Government cannot “completely shield” people from the rising cost of living, as he promised plans to get the country “back on track” following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister used the Queen’s Speech – delivered for the first time by the Prince of Wales – to set out plans for changes to create a “high-wage, high-skill” economy.

But he quickly came under fire yesterday for failing to include immediate extra help for households facing spiralling costs, with inflation set to hit a 40-year high later in 2022.

With the war in Ukraine raging, the Government’s programme also included a series of measures to give the security services extra powers to tackle foreign spies and efforts to influence British democracy.

The package also contains a series of measures aimed at taking advantage of the freedoms offered by Brexit – but there was no legislation to implement the Government’s threat to tear up the deal on Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements.

With soaring energy bills, inflation forecast to hit 10% and benefits and wages failing to keep up with rising prices, the cost of living is set to dominate domestic politics in the coming months.

The Government highlighted the £22 billion package of help with energy bills, tax cuts and other measures already announced and hinted at further support in future.

But its focus is on generating economic growth to help address the issues rather than increasing state support, with the public finances already battered by the billions borrowed to address the pandemic.

“After two years of Covid-19, I know that the last thing people need are further challenges. I know people are struggling with their bills and that they are anxious about the future,” Mr Johnson said.

“While we must keep our public finances on a sustainable footing – and we cannot completely shield people from the fallout from global events – where we can help, we will.”

Mr Johnson said the “aftershocks of Covid-19 and the biggest war in