Tory leadership contest: Rishi Sunak says Government has ‘moral responsibility’ to help with energy bills
Rishi Sunak has vowed to boost winter energy payments for pensioners and people on low incomes, arguing that the Government has a “moral responsibility” to do so.
The Tory leadership contender explained how he would “go further” with support packages for struggling families to BBC’s Nick Robinson during an interview broadcast on Wednesday evening.
When confronted with the BBC’s projection of the average energy bill costing £3,582 this October, Mr Sunak said: “Those numbers are worse when I was Chancellor, that’s why I do feel a moral responsibility to go further and get extra help for people over winter in what is a really difficult time.”
Energy bills cost on average £1,277 in October 2021, according to the BBC.
The Tory leadership candidate said he couldn’t put a precise figure on his promised increased energy payments without knowing official figures, but vowed to cut VAT on energy bills “this Autumn”.
He said that it would be introduced on top of the £550 support eligible families are already receiving, bringing the total amount of support to around £700 to £800.
He confirmed that extra support could total a few billion pounds, but defended the amount of spending against Liz Truss’s proposed economic plan.
“There is a huge difference between what I’m suggesting which is temporary support to deal with a specific challenge compared to what Liz is proposing, £50 billion in extra borrowing every year.”
Mr Sunak vowed to “be straight with people” about the cost of living crisis, saying “no amount of starry eyed boosterism” was going to help people “get through the winter”.
He promised that his goal was to “restore trust back into politics” and said that Conservative members could “trust him” because of his work as Chancellor during the pandemic.
“I’m prepared to lose this contest if it means that I’ve been true to my values and I’m fighting for the things I think are right for this country,” he said.
“I’d rather lose on those terms than win by promising false things that I can’t deliver.”
He added: “I would rather lose having fought for the things that I passionately believe…than win on a false promise.”
“My judgment is right about tackling inflation and tackling the cost of living, and they can trust me.
“Because as they’ve seen in this leadership contest, I’ve been honest with them about challenges, doesn’t make my life easy, but that’s how I am, that’s how I’ll be as prime minister.
“I’ll be straight with them, and that’s what leadership is about.”
On migration, Mr Sunak said the “most pressing migration problem we have is people coming illegally in small boats across the Channel”.
He also said as prime minister he would continue Britain’s support to strengthen Ukraine and “weaken” Russia, and would impose further sactions.
Just a few hours before Mr Sunak’s interview, Liz Truss made an appearance on GB News.
She pledged to reverse the national insurance rise “on day one” of her tenure if she was elected as leader of the Conservative Party.
Ms Truss has been invited to be interviewed by BBC’s Nick Robinson, and is still “considering” the offer.
The new prime minister to replace Boris Johnson will be announced on September 5.
