Ten days is ‘not long’ for the public to wait for news on how the government will help them with spiralling bills, a senior minister said today.
Families have been increasingly anxious over the cost of living crisis, accusing Boris Johnson of presiding over a months-long ‘zombie government’ during the lengthy Tory leadership contest.
Boris Johnson, still the Prime Minister until next month, has been on two holidays in the last month - and has not put forward any new measures to help with the crisis since May.
But Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted people "don't have long to wait" to find out what the next Prime Minister will do.
He said both Tory leadership candidates have already set out "some specific things" they would do to ease the burden, but it is right that whoever secures the top job will "want to look at all of the options properly costed" when they take office.
Of the contenders to replace Mr Johnson as Prime Minister, Liz Truss is reportedly ready to give extra winter fuel payments to pensioners to ease the burden - despite in the past insisting she was focused on tax cuts rather than "handouts".
While her rival Rishi Sunak has said he will provide additional support targeted at the most vulnerable.
Mr Eustice told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We announced a package of measures in June which was a £400 rebate for everyone, and then additional support for the most vulnerable.
"Both candidates have said they will do more. You don't have long to wait, there will be a new prime minister in place in 10 days or so."
He added: "That is the point at which that new prime minister should look at the options and make decisions. and they've both made clear that this will be absolutely at the top of their in-tray."
He added: "I think it's right that when they become prime minister, whoever it is, they will want to look at all of the options properly costed and to understand the impact of each of those options."
