'Help is coming' with cost of living, Business Sec insists amid concerns over winter blackouts

20 August 2022, 23:59 | Updated: 21 August 2022, 00:14

Brits will receive support ahead of winter, the Business Secretary has insisted.
Brits will receive support ahead of winter, the Business Secretary has insisted. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

"Help is coming" for struggling Brits to deal with the cost of living crisis, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has pledged.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Work is urgently under way on "the best package of measures" so that the next Prime Minister can "hit the ground running" as soon as they take over, Mr Kwarteng said.

However, the Liz Truss supporter made it clear that a future windfall tax was off the table, instead saying he would prioritise domestic energy production.

It comes amid concerns of a particularly challenging winter, which could see several blackouts as the crisis continues to spiral out of control.

Experts believe the risk of blackouts is the highest it has been in decades, with the government being told to act fast to reduce chances, according to the Times.

Earlier on Saturday, there were also fresh warnings that energy bills could soar even higher in April to £6,000, crippling families across the UK.

Read more: Energy bills could spike to £6,000 next year, experts warn

Read more: Britain's pubs, cafes and restaurants shuttered as energy costs push them to the brink

Labour says Parliament must be recalled to tackle soaring energy costs

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Mr Kwarteng said: "No country is immune from rising prices – least of all Britain. I understand the deep anxiety this is causing.

"As winter approaches, millions of families will be concerned about how they are going to make ends meet.

"But I want to reassure the British people that help is coming."

Ms Truss suggested families and businesses would be offered more support under her but gave little detail.

In an interview with the Sun on Sunday, she said every government "has to look at making sure life is affordable for people" and she is looking at help "across the board".

However, she doubled down on comments saying she would help people in a "Conservative way", implying handouts would be a last resort.

"What I really object to is taking money off people in tax and then giving them the money back in benefits," she said.

"That doesn't make sense to me."

Ferrari: Why are these hustings still happening amid a crisis

Meanwhile, Ms Truss' leadership rival, Rishi Sunak, has promised to bring forward hundreds of pounds in extra financial support.

He said he would wait until after the new level of the price cap is confirmed at the end of August before laying out details of his own plans but suggested it would involve topping up the existing support schemes to take account of the higher global gas prices.

Caretaker PM Boris Johnson has also promised a trade deal that will open up a market of around half a billion people to help businesses cope with the crisis.

Joining the "mighty" Pacific trading block "will mean lower prices on our supermarket shelves", the Express reports.

Mr Johnson and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the deal - which could boost exports by £18billion - should result in lower prices.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

'She was grateful for life': parents of Southport stabbing victims pay tribute to their children

Israeli hostage reunited with his family.

Emotional moment Israeli hostages reunite with families after being paraded on stage by Hamas

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road at the rally.

Protesters clash with police as thousands rally outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

The father of the Huszti sisters has said he believes his daughters were "kidnapped" and "cruelly killed"

Heartbroken father of sisters found dead in River Dee believes they were 'lured to their death'

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star breaks silence over death of mum found dead in French villa with her husband

Harvey Willgoose's parents Caroline Willgoose (left) and Mark (right) holder a banner as they march to Bramall Lane in memory of their son

Hundreds gather for memorial march after 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose stabbed to death at school in Sheffield

Police tell locals to stay away from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub due to large gathering of pony and traps

Police tell locals to stay away from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub due to large gathering of pony and traps

Pauline Quirke

Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke 'struggling to identify family members' amid dementia battle

Detail of the logo on a Sony PlayStation 5 home video game console

PlayStation Network hit with worldwide outage as tens of thousands of gamers locked out

The Government has ordered Apple to allow it to access encrypted files uploaded to the cloud by any Apple user worldwide, it has been reported.

UK Government orders Apple to give it access to users’ encrypted data in 'unprecedented attack on privacy'

The wreckage of the small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska has been found

Missing Alaska Bering Air plane found with all 10 people on board confirmed dead

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Israeli hostages Or Levy, Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami have been released

'We won't gloss over the shocking scenes', warns Netanyahu as three freed by Hamas paraded on stage

Harry and Meghan at the 2023 Invictus Games

Meghan to join Prince Harry at Invictus Games in Canada

Exclusive
General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union Steve Wright is yet to receive a follow up on the minister’s comments.

Government must introduce health checks for firefighters after Grenfell, union says

c

New EPC rules for landlords could lead to higher rents and fewer homes