Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been branded 'tone deaf' after his response to a 77-year-old's cost of living situation. Mr Johnson appeared on Good Morning Britain today (May 3) in an interview with Susanna Reid.
After hiding in a fridge to avoid questions from Piers Morgan in 2019, the Prime Minister was unable to dodge Susanna's persistent questioning in his first interview with GMB in five years. Following a discussion about the crisis in Ukraine, the interview turned to the cost of living crisis, with Susanna bringing up some examples of how people in the UK are struggling.
Susanna told Mr Johnson about the heartbreaking story of Elsie, a 77-year-old widow whose energy bills have risen from £17 a month to £85 a month.
Susanna said: "You have said that individuals have to make choices about what they spend their money on - you're on record as saying that.
"And I want to ask you, then, about a number of our viewers who have got in touch with us about the choices that they're making. Elsie is 77, she's a widow and she's a pensioner who lives in a council house.
"She receives a pension of £170 a week. Her energy bills have gone - get this - from £17 a month to £85 a month. She will pay an additional £816 a year."
Susanna heartbreakingly added: "To cut down on spending, Prime Minister, Elsie has now resorted to eating one meal a day - she’s 77 years old. She’s losing weight.
"She goes to the supermarket at the end of the day to buy yellow sticker discounted items, she gets up early in the morning to use her Freedom Bus Pass, to stay on buses all day to avoid using energy at home. What else should Elsie cut back on?"
The Prime Minister replied: "Well I don’t want Elsie to cut back on... let's talk about Elsie, and what we’re doing.
"And just to remind you that the 24-hour Freedom Bus Pass was something that I actually introduced."
Susanna interjected: "Marvellous, so Elsie should be grate to you for her bus pass!"
GMB viewers reacted to the interview, with Tommy saying: "Boris taking credit for cheap bus fares in the face of being told an old lady uses buses to keep warm rather than heat her home is tragic and hilariously tone deaf in equal measure."
Annie wrote: "He doesn’t give a flying about Elsie or the thousands of other Elsie’s in this country. He doesn’t care about anyone, whatever age they are, young or old, he only cares about himself."
Another said: "Shocked and on the verge of tears hearing the story of Elsie, a 77 year old pensioner who spends her days riding buses as she can’t afford the heating in her home. It’s criminal that Boris Johnson isn’t doing anything to change this #GMB."
The PM was also questioned on whether he thinks he is an 'honest' leader amid the partygate row.
Mr Johnson said: “I do my best to represent faithfully and accurately what I believe and sometimes it's controversial and sometimes it offends people, but that’s what I do…”
Pushed on whether he lies, Boris answered: “If you’re talking about the statements I made in the House of Commons, I was inadvertently, I was wrong and I’ve apologised for that. But look at what we have done.”
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