Boris Johnson contends with ‘civil war in Conservative party’ over cost of living measures

THE cost of living squeeze has split Boris Johnson's Government over what measures to take, Talk TV host JuliaHartley-Brewers observes.

Cost of living: Sunak 'has to take action' says Reynolds

The ’s conflicting messages around the measures to tackle the crisis reflect the level of confusion and chaos in Downing Street, Talk TV host Julia Hartley-Brewers noticed. While Prime Minister has claimed aid would come soon, Chancellor of the Exchequer has so far ruled out a windfall tax. UK inflation hit a 40-year high of 9 percent in April, with the highest food prince in a decade, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (ISF). 

The ISF’s latest figures show growing inequality as lowest-income households face higher inflation than the wealthiest ones.

In the face of those figures, Talk TV’s Hartley-Brewers said: "The cost of living crisis is not just a crisis for ordinary people trying to pay their bills right now.

"It’s a crisis for the government as well.

"Looking at all the different frontpages today, it does appear that there’s a war going on in the Conservative party between Number 10 and Number 11 over what measures they should take if any over the cost-of-living crisis.

Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Julia Hartley-Brewers

Julia Hartley-Brewers noticed a civil war in the Conservative party over the cost of living crisis (Image: GETTY)

Julia Hartley-Brewers and Jonathan Reynolds

Julia Hartley-Brewers asked Jonathan Reynolds what he made of the Government's handling (Image: TWITTER/@TalkTV)

"What do you make of these reports?" Ms Hartley-Brewer asked. 

Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds answered: "Well, it’s similar to what we’ve seen in Parliament this week.

"I think we’ve had the Commons be what it was.

"The Prime Minister said the help is coming soon, the Chancellor say it’s not coming soon.

"I think the business secretary said he would rule out a windfall tax, keeping everything else on the table."

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Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson's Government has so far failed to come up with a cost-of-living plan (Image: GETTY)

Inflation

UK inflation hit a 40-year high of 9 percent in April, ISF says (Image: GETTY)

Mr Reynolds’ comments come as Mr Sunak is under mounting pressure from his fellow conservative MPs to deliver help to mitigate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. In a speech to the Confederation of British Industry, Mr Sunak said he had a plan but admitted: “the next few months will be tough.”

"I mean the reason for this point is what piece of news is the Government waiting for to appreciate the scale of the crisis.

"That inflation figures yesterday (reached) a 40-year high.

"We’ve seen some figures this morning around business disillusion in the UK is now reeling higher than the entirety of last year."

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Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunka is expected to announce new measures imminently (Image: GETTY)

"So, the problem is clearly real.

"Now, the thing about a windfall tax is it is fair, it is proportionate, it is effective, and it gives you some help, some resource that you can use now to target in the right way."

Speculation has been growing about an imminent new package of measures. 

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