Boris Johnson has been urged to host a ‘cost of living summit’ in Number 10 to “thrash out” solutions to the looming crunch on household budgets.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey accused the Prime Minister of being “missing in action” - and too busy trying to save his own skin than to help struggling families.
He said: "It is utterly shameful that Boris Johnson held law-breaking parties in Downing Street, but won’t haul in the bosses of energy firms to help struggling families with their bills.”
The proposed summit would require the heads of the top five utility companies in the energy, telecoms and water sectors to come to Downing Street for roundtable meetings with ministers.
It would also include representatives of the public, so that both ministers and company bosses hear from people struggling to afford their household bills.
Energy bills are forecast to soar by 50% in April or an estimated £600 per household, forcing families to choose between eating and heating, while broadband bills are set to rise by 9.3%.
Sir Ed added: “Previous Prime Ministers would have acted by now, but Johnson hasn’t held a single summit in Number 10 with energy bosses.
“It shows the rank hypocrisy at the heart of this rotten Conservative government.
“People are staying up at night worried about the choice between eating and heating, while Boris Johnson and his cronies celebrate and wheel suitcases of wine around Number 10.”
A No10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that our priority is to protect consumers from facing higher bills.
“Together with the Chancellor and the Business Secretary, he continues to listen to consumers and businesses on how to abate high energy costs, and is keeping the support we have in place under review.
“This government is taking action worth billions to support families facing pressures with the cost of living. The Energy Price Cap remains in place, protecting 15 million households from sudden price spikes, and we are also supporting vulnerable and low-income households with the cost of fuel bills through initiatives such as the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and weather -payments-2019-what-13874235> Cold Weather Payments.”
