‘More aid will be coming’ after first £37bn

HOUSEHOLDS need to look at how they are using energy, the Chancellor suggested amid calls for urgent Government intervention to tackle soaring energy bills.

It comes as outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson predicted a “tough” few months ahead – but promised energy prices will eventually come down amid grim predictions about the impact the 80.06% rise in the energy price cap will have on millions of the poorest households across the UK.

Nadhim Zahawi stressed on Friday that the Government is not paralysed by the Tory leadership contest. He said help from the Government

is coming, but admitted: “We know that’s not enough. We’ve got to do more. We need to make sure that this isn’t a sticking plaster, that for the long term we continue to help the most vulnerable who have no cushion, and that’s what I’m determined to do. And we’re working up those options for both households and for businesses for the incoming prime minister on September 5.

“So my message today is, ‘We’ll get this £37bn to people to help them for now, and then more will be coming because we know this will continue in January and, of course, on to April and next year and we have to remain resilient’.”

But he added: “The reality is that we should all look at our energy consumption. It is a difficult time. There is war on our continent.”

Mr Johnson, in his final few days in office, also said the Government has a “big, big package of help and support”. He said the “extra cash” will come in September. “There’s a pipeline of cash coming through over the next few months, and through the autumn and the winter. But that is clearly now going to be augmented, increased, by extra cash that the Government is plainly going to be announcing in September,” he said.