THERE will be no emergency budget to tackle the cost of living crisis, Michael Gove has confirmed – despite Boris Johnson vowing further support for struggling families.
In a bizarre interview in which he appeared to mock journalists, Gove denied there was a row between the Prime Minister and the Treasury following conflicting statements on extra anti-poverty measures.
Under fire for failing to use the Queen’s Speech to announce fresh help, Johnson suggested he and Rishi Sunak would announce more “in the days to come”.
But the Treasury quickly shot down this suggestion, while No 10 conceded more support should not be expected in the “next few days”.
On BBC Breakfast, Gove insisted Johnson’s “commonsensical” comments had been “overinterpreted” by pundits.
The Levelling Up Secretary faced criticism for saying “an emergency budget” and “a major, capital letters, big news story” in what sounded like a North American accent. He also mimicked the Treasury, saying “calm down” in a mock-Scouse accent – which reminded viewers of comedian Harry Enfield’s sketch.
The Tory minister went on to insist that claims of a split between the Chancellor and the Prime Minister over the need for more financial support were “overinflated”.
Gove was asked to explain the conflicting statements from No 10 and No 11 on BBC Breakfast. Using a variety of sarcastic voices, he told the show: “We are constantly looking at ideas to relieve the pressure on people facing incredibly tough times, but that does not amount to an ‘emergency budget’, which is what some people immediately thought it did.
"It is an example of some commentators chasing their own tails, and trying to take a statement that is commonsensical, turning it into a major ‘capital letter big news story’. In fact, when the Treasury say ‘calm down’, then people say instead of recognising they have over-inflated the story in the first place, then say ‘this is clearly a split’.”
Commenting on Twitter, SNP MP Stephen Flynn wrote: "Michael Gove doing his absolute best to confirm that he could not care less about the cost of living crisis."
Labour's Lisa Nandy added: “What is he doing!? Making jokes and using silly voices while families across the country are struggling to survive.
“This isn’t a game (or an Oxford Union debate!). People are having to choose between heating and eating.”
The Tory minister also ruled out an emergency budget while speaking to Sky News.
He told Kay Burley: “There won’t be an emergency budget. It is sometimes the case that the words from a prime minister or minister are overinterpreted.
“The Prime Minister is right. We will be saying more and doing more in order to help people with the cost-of-living challenge we face at the moment, but that doesn’t amount to an emergency budget. It is part of the work of government.
“Last night the Prime Minister convened a group of ministers – we have all done work on some of the things we could do to help. Those policy initiatives will be announced by individual departments in due course as they are worked up.”
The Tory minister also made eyebrow-raising comments to LBC. He was asked by Nick Ferrari how angry he is on a scale of one to 10 about the suggestion that Liz Truss “wants to tear up” the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Gove replied: “Minus five. I’m super cool with it and I’m a big, big Liz Truss fan.”
On Good Morning Britain, he claimed it is “bonkeroony” to suggest Boris Johnson should have to resign over lockdown parties in Downing Street.
BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker raised concerns about Gove's wellbeing after the interviews.
He tweeted: "I’ve watched our interview back a few times now. Still trying to work out what happened. I hope Mr Gove is ok."
Johnson chaired a meeting of the domestic and economic strategy committee with senior ministers on Tuesday.
But No 10 has in the past suggested they have been told to come up with ideas to ease the pain that do not require new money.
Households are facing soaring energy bills, inflation is forecast to hit 10% and welfare payments and wages are falling far behind the increase in prices.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called the Government’s response “pathetic”, as he was joined by charities and economic experts in criticising Johnson’s plans.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on the UK Government to introduce a windfall tax on “all companies making excess profits”.
He also pointed to measures taken by the Scottish Government, such as increasing the Scottish Child Payment.
Blackford told Sky News the impact of increasing poverty was “heartbreaking”. He added: “We know that people are having to make choices in terms of turning heating off. We know that people are having to think about what they can eat, whether they can put food on the table. This is supposed to be a society where there is compassion at the heart of it, and we're leaving people behind.
“It’s the fact that there was nothing in the Queen's Speech that recognised that there has to be a sense of urgency. People are facing real hardship and this government is being tin-eared.”
The Child Poverty Action Group said there was “no short-term comfort for parents struggling to feed their kids in the face of rocketing prices”.
Torsten Bell, the chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think tank, said ministers had announced “nothing material today on the short-term nightmare of cost of living”.
LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey said the Queen’s Speech “does nothing to help the millions of families and pensioners facing soaring bills and eye-watering inflation”.
