Boris Johnson won’t get involved in crisis as that is “for the next PM,”

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08th Aug, 2022. 07:15 pm
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Downing Street has rejected calls for Boris Johnson to call an emergency COBRA meeting.
Gordon Brown and the CBI have urged Mr Johnson to “act now” on rising energy prices.
Downing Street says it is not “unusual” for ministers to take time off during the summer recess.

Downing Street has rejected calls for Boris Johnson to call an emergency COBRA meeting to address the rising cost of living.

Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged Mr Johnson to meet with his two potential successors and work out a financial package of measures before energy prices skyrocket in October.

He warned that if immediate action is not taken, people will go hungry and cold this winter, telling Sky News that he was seeing poverty in his hometown of Fife “that I did not expect to see ever again in my lifetime.”

The CBI, a leading business group, also urged Mr Johnson to “act now,” outlining four steps the government could take to mitigate the effects of the crisis.

However, the prime minister’s spokesman stated that, while the government recognises the difficulties that struggling households face, “It is not customary for this prime minister to make major fiscal interventions during this time period. It is intended for a future prime minister.”

He also defended Mr Johnson’s decision to go on vacation as the Bank of England warned of an impending recession, saying the public understands it’s “not unusual for ministers to take time off during recess.”

Mr Johnson and Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi were chastised for their absence amid dire predictions that the UK is on the verge of the worst financial crisis since the 2008 crash, with interest rates reaching their highest level in 27 years.

Mr Johnson, who has returned to No. 10 after a vacation in Slovenia, spoke with Mr Zahawi during his break to discuss measures that will be implemented this year, according to the PM’s spokesperson.

“Both candidates have spoken about new things they would introduce,” he said, implying that Mr Johnson had no plans to meet with Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak.

Boris Johnson won’t get involved in crisis as that is “for the next PM,”

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